June 21, 2017

Chicago Tribune, Anthony Rizzo does it again with leadoff home run in Cubs' 4-0 victory http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-padres-spt-0621-20170620-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Anthony Rizzo gets off with warning for collision heard 'round Wrigleyville http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-anthony-rizzo-warning-sullivan-spt-0621-20170620-column.html

Chicago Tribune, Pete Ricketts to honor President George H.W. Bush at CWS breakfast http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-pete-ricketts-president-bush-20170621-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs ready to deal once playoff contenders, pretenders sort themselves out http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-notes-cubs-padres-spt-0621-20170620-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs teammates Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward see enough of Javier Baez http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-kyle-schwarber-jason-heyward-javier-baez-20170620-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Rizzo leads off with homer, sparks Cubs to 4-0 victory over Padres http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/rizzo-leads-off-with-homer-sparks-cubs-to-4-0-victory-over-padres/

Chicago Sun-Times, GM Hoyer says front office owes players patience http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-notebook-gm-hoyer-says-front-office-owes-players-patience/

Chicago Sun-Times, Rizzo homers, ties Cubs record after reaching safely in 7th straight http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/rizzo-violated-rule-but-wont-be-disciplined-its-over-with-now/

Chicago Sun-Times, MLB says Rizzo violated collision rule, won’t face discipline http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/rizzo-hit-on-catcher-should-make-sparks-fly-in-padres-cubs-rematch/

Chicago Sun-Times, Javy Baez strips down for ESPN’s ‘Body Issue’ http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/javier-baez-strips-down-for-espns-body-issue/

Daily Herald, For Chicago Cubs, pitching a priority http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170620/for-chicago-cubs-pitching-a-priority

Daily Herald, MLB says Chicago Cubs' Rizzo violated rule, closes the issue http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170620/mlb-says-chicago-cubs-rizzo-violated-rule-closes-the-issue

Cubs.com, Butler looking to help deliver sweep of Padres http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/237660636/butler-looking-to-help-deliver-sweep-of-padres

Cubs.com, Cubs blank Padres as Rizzo's jack sets tone http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/237661086/anthony-rizzos-homer-powers-cubs-past-padres/

Cubs.com, Lead-er of the pack: Rizzo HR extends streak http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/237681134/anthony-rizzos-hr-ups-leadoff-on-base-streak/

Cubs.com, Rizzo won't face discipline for slide into Hedges http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/237643542/mlb-reviews-anthony-rizzo-austin-hedges-slide/

Cubs.com, Cubs eyeing pitching ahead of Trade Deadline http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/237661660/cubs-seek-pitching-help-before-trade-deadline/

Cubs.com, Cahill, Richard receive WS rings from Cubs http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/237661434/trevor-cahill-clayton-richard-get-ws-rings/

ESPNChicago.com, MLB says Anthony Rizzo won't be disciplined after violating home-plate collision rule Monday http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19691148/mlb-says-anthony-rizzo-violated-home-plate-collision-rule-monday-game-disciplined

CSNChicago.com, Anthony Rizzo Continues To Be The Greatest Leadoff Hitter Of All-Time, Starts Things With Homer In Cubs' Blanking Of Padres http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/anthony-rizzo-continues-be-greatest-leadoff-hitter-all-time-starts-things-homer-cubs

CSNChicago.com, Another Way To Think About Cubs Making Big Deal For Pitching At Trade Deadline http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/another-way-think-about-cubs-making-big-deal-pitching-trade-deadline

CSNChicago.com, Jason Heyward Could Be Next High-Profile Player Cubs Move To Disabled List http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/jason-heyward-could-be-next-high-profile-player-cubs-move-disabled-list

CSNChicago.com, No MLB Discipline — Or Retaliation From Padres — As Anthony Rizzo Stays Hot In Cubs Leadoff Spot http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/no-mlb-discipline-or-retaliation-padres-anthony-rizzo-stays-hot-cubs-leadoff-spot

CSNChicago.com, Report: MLB Rules Anthony Rizzo's Controversial Slide Illegal http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/report-mlb-rules-anthony-rizzos-controversial-slide-illegal

CSNChicago.com, Javy Baez Is All Kinds Of Naked In The New ESPN Body Issue http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/javy-baez-all-kinds-naked-new-espn-body-issue

CSNChicago.com, The Padres Actually Have A Point When It Comes To Anthony Rizzo's Controversial Slide At Home Plate http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/mlb-padres-actually-have-point-when-it-comes-anthony-rizzos-controversial-slide-home-plate-austin-hedges-andy-green-buster-posey

CSNChicago.com, Padres Manager Accuses Rizzo Of 'Cheap Shot,' And Padres Radio Twitter Refuses To Stay Classy, San Diego http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/padres-manager-accuses-rizzo-cheap-shot-and-padres-radio-twitter-refuses-stay-classy-san-diego

-- Chicago Tribune Anthony Rizzo does it again with leadoff home run in Cubs' 4-0 victory By Mark Gonzales Anthony Rizzo continued to set a positive tone for an reinvigorated Cubs offense.

But just as essential to the team's long-term fortunes was the performance of left-hander Mike Montgomery. Montgomery, making his third start, pitched six shutout innings that meshed well with Rizzo's leadoff home run as the Cubs coasted to a 4-0 victory over the Padres for their third consecutive triumph. "As long as we keep winning, I have no problem with (leading off)," Rizzo said after reaching base safely as a leadoff batter in the first inning for his seventh consecutive start. "I would have no problem (batting) third or fourth or whatever Joe feels is best for us. The main thing is we keep winning." Rizzo, who learned before the game he wouldn't be penalized for his collision Monday with Padres catcher Austin Hedges, tied Richie Ashburn (June 28-July 3, 1960) for the longest streak for a Cubs player to reach base leading off a game since at least 1946. Rizzo also is the first player to reach base in his first seven career games as a leadoff batter since 1974, according to STATS, Inc. Rizzo, who hit Jhoulys Chacin's second pitch into the shrubs behind the center field wall, is batting .429 with two doubles, one triple, four home runs, seven runs and 10 RBIs in seven games from the leadoff spot. The leadoff homer extended his career-high hitting streak to 14 games. "It's great, it's funny," Rizzo said of his leadoff success. "I'm sure my teammates are starting to get a little tired of it because I'm constantly in their ears nonstop telling them to make sure (they) don't miss it. "It's all in good fun. I'm having fun with it." Rizzo and his teammates expressed much satisfaction with Montgomery, who appears more comfortable in each start in place of Kyle Hendricks, who appears to be sidelined until at least the All-Star break because of a grade 1 strain of a tendon in his right middle finger. Montgomery kept his defense alert and sharp by inducing 12 groundball outs. Willson Contreras didn't record a putout in the eight innings he played left field for the first time this season. "(Montgomery) set the tone," Rizzo said. "He pitched well, pitched fast. He pounded the strike zone. It's fun to play behind him." Montgomery earned his first victory in eight starts with the Cubs dating back to last August, posting a 2.97 ERA in those starts. Montgomery said he benefited from an extra day between starts to strengthen his legs and allow him to pitch at least six shutout innings for the third time in his career. "The baseball season is long, and a lot can happen," Montgomery said. "I knew not having the role (of starter) out of spring training (that) I would have an opportunity (later)." Cubs starters are 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA and have limited opponents to a .193 batting average in the last seven games. Montgomery posted the first scoreless start for a Cubs starter since Eddie Butler did it May 12 at St. Louis. Butler will try to help the Cubs complete a three-game sweep Wednesday. -- Chicago Tribune Anthony Rizzo gets off with warning for collision heard 'round Wrigleyville By Paul Sullivan

The Anthony Rizzo verdict on Tuesday was a victory for the Padres, who wanted it known that the Cubs' first baseman violated the rules when he collided with catcher Austin Hedges during Monday night's game at Wrigley Field. And it was also a victory for Rizzo, who pleaded his case to Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre and got off with a warning instead of a fine or suspension. Sports talk-radio also was a big winner for having something new to talk about during the biggest lull in the sports calendar, and nostalgic fans who still enjoy seeing hard contact in a game called "hardball" came out on top, too. The only real loser was Padres manager Andy Green, who called Rizzo's move a "cheap shot" and proceeded to make a mountain out of a mole hill. "The way I explained it to (Torre), and the way I was going, there was zero intent to be malicious to Austin Hedges," Rizzo said. "And it was a good conversation. I'm happy they came to closure on it." Green said Tuesday he stood by everything he said on Monday, which suggests he still thought it was a cheap shot. But he added "I don't think in any way, shape or form he's a dirty player," so perhaps he meant it was an unintentional cheap shot, which would be an oxymoron. The catchers interference rule, aka the "Posey Rule," was adopted in 2014 with good intent. But it has changed the way baseball is played, making any hard contact at the plate into a federal case. Fortunately for Rizzo and the Cubs, Torre determined Rizzo's crime was a misdemeanor. Manager Joe Maddon is no fan of the collision rule, but seems to be in the minority these days. "I guess I'm the vocal minority in this one," he said. "A lot of times people may think something but not necessarily say it. … I'm not going to just concede and just pay lip service to something I don't believe in. I'm just not going to do it. So I'm really just telling you what I think. That's what I saw. It was a good baseball play." Rizzo argued he was going by "instinct" and had 1/10th of a second to decide whether to try and slide around Hedges or go straight toward the plate. That's why bang-bang plays are so exciting, and shouldn't always lead to discipline. "I could have gone in with my shoulder like a linebacker and really took a shot," Rizzo said. "I went in, kind of last second slide, not really sure where to go, and that's (Torre's) understanding of it, too. "It's not like I was going in trying to end Austin Hedges' career. He's trying to do the same thing I'm trying to do, and that's try to win ballgames for his team and have a long career." Torre made the right decision, even if Rizzo's slide was a technical violation of the Posey Rule, as Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer conceded. "Ultimately his path deviated a little bit toward the catcher," Hoyer said. "Obviously (it was) against the rules. I do think it's hard for the baserunner. It's a challenging thing. You're trying to make a decision on when to slide and where to slide. "I think (Rizzo) has gotten banged a couple of times by catchers coming into him this year. I don't think it's an easy thing for a baserunner. … It wasn't malicious or dirty, but he kind of created the contact. So hopefully it's behind us, and maybe it's a good rules refresher occasionally." Green said he was only trying to protect catchers, even as he impugned Rizzo's reputation. "The last thing you want to see happen is people feel like it's open season on catchers — 'Hey there are two outs, ball beats me there, I might as well light him up anyway because I'm going to be out, so let's take a shot,'" he said. "That's what you want to deter from happening, and that's what I was hoping (Torre) would look at and say 'Yeah

there's a reason to have some sort of repercussion' if they feel somebody does something that jeopardizes the health of another baseball player." Maddon said Monday he fully backed Rizzo's decision, and made no apologies for the old school collision. "You don't see it anymore because the runner thinks he has to avoid the catcher," he said. "He doesn't. If the guy is in the way you're still able to hit him. I think we've just retrained the mind so much right there that they look to miss him." But on Tuesday Maddon said the "narrative" was "really thrown out of proportion" thanks to the way news is dissected and analyzed to death. "That's just the world we live in today, whether it's in sports or otherwise," he said. "Just turn back the clock 10 years (ago) and that was not even discussed more than (being) just a good, old-fashioned baseball play." -- Chicago Tribune Pete Ricketts to honor President George H.W. Bush at CWS breakfast By Mark Gonzales Pete Ricketts doesn't spend much time around Wrigley Field due to his primary duties as governor of Nebraska. But Ricketts, a Chicago Cubs board member, will hold the honor Wednesday of reading a letter from President George W. Bush about his father's military service and participation in the College World Series 70 years ago. The event, hosted by the Knights of Columbus Sports Council, will take place in Omaha, site of the College World Series. President George H.W. Bush was a first baseman for Yale in the 1947 CWS. Cubs chaplain Fr. Burke Masters will deliver the opening prayer. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs ready to deal once playoff contenders, pretenders sort themselves out By Mark Gonzales The Cubs have reconnected with interested teams and funneled their scouts to the proper ballparks in pursuit of starting pitching. "It's amazing (how) the phone traffic picks up after the draft," general manager Jed Hoyer said. "It feels like everyone looks at that line of demarcation to start making calls and start checking in." The Cubs, however, are in somewhat of a holding pattern as there isn't much separation between current postseason contenders and teams virtually out of playoff contention. "That's why a lot of deals don't happen this time of year because teams are sorting it out," Hoyer said. "The next five or six weeks will determine that. "Some teams in the race will fall back. There are a lack of teams that have a true sense they're sellers. There are a lot of teams close enough not to admit now they'll be sellers. Those five weeks determine a lot who turns out on which side of the fence." Hoyer reiterated the same faith in the current roster that President Theo Epstein displayed three weeks ago, although Hoyer said the Cubs wouldn't rule out "anything if it makes us better."

"But pitching is the priority now, this winter," Hoyer said. "We know organizationally where we need to go. But you don't rule out anything if it helps the team." DL for Heyward? Manager Joe Maddon said a trip to the 10-day disabled list hasn't been discussed "yet" for Jason Heyward, but the right fielder admits he still can't grip a bat because his left hand has yet to scab after he scraped it during a sliding catch attempt Sunday. "I have to be realistic with it," said Heyward, who declined to say whether he could be ready this weekend at Miami. "I can't wiggle my way out of this one." Meanwhile, the forecast continues to look cloudy for pitcher Kyle Hendricks, who has yet to test his right hand since being diagnosed with a strain of a tendon in his middle finger. Hendricks said he will accompany the team on its upcoming three-city, 11-game trip starting Thursday. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs teammates Kyle Schwarber, Jason Heyward see enough of Javier Baez By Mark Gonzales Cubs infielder Javier Baez participated in ESPN The Magazine's annual "Body Issue," in which he poses bare in a photo shoot conducted in March in Coolidge, Ariz. But teammates Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward didn't go out of their way to see the photos. "I heard," Schwarber said when a reporter asked him if he knew of Baez's participation. When the reporter showed Schwarber a photo on an iPhone, Schwarber replied in resignation, "good for him." Heyward, who is engaged to a model, had no interest. "Zero sneak peaks, and I probably would have turned them down," Heyward replied. Pitcher Jake Arrieta appeared in last year's "Body Issue." -- Chicago Sun-Times Rizzo leads off with homer, sparks Cubs to 4-0 victory over Padres By Jeff Arnold Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo can say with relative certainty that his teammates have grown tired of his chirping. It’s all in good fun, mind you. But considering how the legend of Rizzo as a leadoff hitter continues to pick up steam, he’s not about to stop talking now — especially not when he keeps backing it up. ‘‘I’m constantly in their ears, nonstop,’’ Rizzo said after hitting a home run to lead off the Cubs’ first inning in their 4-0 victory Tuesday against the Padres. ‘‘[I’m] telling them, ‘Make sure you don’t miss it,’ ‘It’s going to be 1-0’ or ‘Watch this one.’ But it’s all in good fun, and [I’m] having fun with it.’’ Since being moved into the leadoff spot last week, Rizzo’s opening act has become a main attraction. With his homer against Jhoulys Chacin, Rizzo — who went 1-for-3 with a walk — extended his streak of reaching safely leading off the first to seven games. That matched a Cubs record the team said dates at least to 1946 and equaled a feat Richie Ashburn pulled off in 1960.

According to STATS, Rizzo is the only player in the majors to reach base in his first seven career at-bats leading off the first since at least 1974. But Rizzo being mentioned in the same breath as Ashburn impressed Maddon. ‘‘Whenever you have your name on a board with Richie Ashburn, that’s pretty significant,’’ Maddon said. Asked whether he had heard of Ashburn, Rizzo smiled. ‘‘I wish I could say I have,’’ he said. The homer added to what already had been an eventful day for Rizzo. Earlier, he was found to be in violation of Major League Baseball’s rule on collisions after he barreled over Padres catcher Austin Hedges on Monday. The collision, which was characterized as a ‘‘cheap shot’’ by Padres manager Andy Green and was lauded as a ‘‘good baseball play’’ by Maddon, sparked an immediate firestorm. But after speaking with MLB disciplinarian Joe Torre, Rizzo was informed he won’t be punished for a play he said he made on instinct and without malice. According to MLB, Rizzo violated Rule 7.13, which states ‘‘a runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate).’’ General manager Jed Hoyer agreed Rizzo had deviated ‘‘a little bit toward the catcher,’’ and Rizzo was glad to have closure sooner rather than later — and without further consequence. ‘‘It’s over with now,’’ he said. But whether the Padres considered the matter closed wasn’t certain. Rizzo stepped to the plate in the first not knowing what was coming. Asked before the game if he thought the Padres would seek retribution for the collision, he said he couldn’t control that. Instead, Rizzo deposited Chacin’s second pitch into the center-field shrubbery. ‘‘They hit me today, then it causes a bigger controversy,’’ Rizzo said. ‘‘It’s one of those things that’s definitely not in my mind if they’re going to get hit and I’m going to get hit. Just play the game.’’ -- Chicago Sun-Times GM Hoyer says front office owes players patience By Jeff Arnold As the Cubs hover around the .500 mark, general manager Jed Hoyer and president Theo Epstein are exercising patience. While the start hasn’t been what they wanted, there won’t be a rush to make changes considering how much baseball is left to be played. Adding pitching to the mix remains a priority, Hoyer said before the game against the Padres on Tuesday at Wrigley Field, but he believes that the Cubs have the right foundation in place to make another deep run. “In general, these are our guys,” Hoyer said. “We won a World Series with largely this roster. I think they’ve proven themselves. I think we owe it to them to be patient with them. I certainly think the standings have benefited us, but there’s a false sense of security with the standings. You try to set yourself against .500, you try to set yourself by not looking at other teams.

“I think we know we have the talent, we know the guys care, it’s just a matter of kind of finding our groove and getting it together. I think we will.” With the trade deadline still over a month away, Hoyer said he won’t rule out other possible targets. That could include a bona fide leadoff hitter to solidify a spot in the lineup that has been filled mostly by Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist, and of late, Anthony Rizzo. Hoyer does not consider Rizzo to be a long-term solution at the top, but said despite the uncertainty at a spot filled last season by Dexter Fowler, improving the pitching corps trumps everything else. “That’s organizationally where we need to go,” Hoyer said. Heyward remains out Right fielder Jason Heyward missed his second consecutive game after he scraped his left hand on the gravel warning track while attempting to make a sliding catch in foul territory on Sunday against the Pirates. Heyward doesn’t have a timetable for his return. The skin on his hand was peeled back and needs to heal before he is ready to play again. Manager Joe Maddon said that a possible trip to the disabled list has not been discussed. Heyward, who again was replaced in right by Jon Jay, would like to return as quickly as possible, but has to be realistic. “It is frustrating . . . [my teammates) know I want to be out there,” Heyward said. “It feels like it’s been five days, not two.” Schwarber sits Schwarber was held out one day after he fouled a ball off his right ankle. X-rays came back negative Monday night. Schwarber left the game Monday after his ankle became so swollen that he couldn’t move around the outfield. Willson Contreras replaced Schwarber in left Tuesday. Schwarber knew immediately that the foul ball had done some damage. “I thought it hit the [protective] pad and it just kind of hurt,” Schwarber said. “I looked down and it looked like I had a baseball in there and I said, ‘that’s not good.’ ” -- Chicago Sun-Times Rizzo homers, ties Cubs record after reaching safely in 7th straight By Jeff Arnold The legend of Anthony Rizzo the leadoff hitter lives on. Rizzo homered off of Padres starter Jhoulys Chacin to extend his string of consecutive games of reaching safely to lead off the game to seven. The streak matches a Cubs record set by Richie Ashburn in 1960. Rizzo also extended his current hitting streak to a career-high 14 games a day after he established a new career-best with a bunt single to lead off Monday night’s 3-2 victory. Rizzo now has three career home runs to lead off a game, all of which have been hit in the past week. Earlier on Tuesday, Rizzo was found to be in violation of Major League Baseball’s rule on collisions when he barreled over Padres catcher Austin Hedges Monday night, but will not be disciplined.

Rizzo spoke with MLB disciplinarian Joe Torre on Tuesday and received a better clarification of Rule 7.13 that states that “a runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate.” Rizzo said Tuesday he had a good conversation with Torre after the two spoke for approximately five minutes. “No discipline coming my way,” Rizzo said. “The league looked at it and it’s over with now.” Rizzo collided with Hedges while attempting to score from third base on a Kris Bryant fly ball. The throw beat Rizzo to the plate and Rizzo was called out after Hedges held onto the ball after the collision. On Tuesday, general manager Jed Hoyer called the rule a “really good rule” and said that on Monday, Rizzo’s path deviated a little bit, which violates the rule. “As a baserunner, I think it’s a challenging thing,” Hoyer said. “You’re trying to make a decision of where to slide and when to slide. I don’t think it’s an easy thing, but in this situation I think he did deviate. It wasn’t malicious or dirty, but he kind of created the contact. “Hopefully, that’s behind us.” Like he said Monday night, Rizzo said Tuesday he “had zero intent” to injure Hedges, who was forced to leave the game with a bruised right thigh. He said Monday’s incident won’t alter the way he approaches the game moving forward. “I think you’ve got to play this game on instinct,” Rizzo said. “I play this game on instincts all the time. (Instincts) take over and you have to live and die by your decision.” Rizzo said while he had to make a quick decision on how to best attempt to score, he felt at the time his best option was to try and go through Hedges. On Monday night, Padres manager Andy Green said Rizzo’s collision with Hedges was a “fairly egregious violation” of the rule after Hedges was forced to leave the game with a bruised right thigh. “It’s a cheap shot,” Green said after Monday night’s 3-2 Cubs win. “I’m not saying [Rizzo] is a dirty player at all — nobody is saying that — but he clearly deviated from his path to hit our catcher. He took our catcher out.” On Tuesday, Green said Hedges could return to the lineup as early as Wednesday for the final game of the three-game series against the Cubs. Green said he stands by “pretty much” everything he said Monday. Green repeated that he does not believe Rizzo is a dirty player. “I think it’s one of those decisions where he makes a decision in a split second and he violates a rule – a rule that is designed to protect the health of my catcher and every catcher in the game of baseball,” Green said. Asked about Green’s comments from Monday, Rizzo said it was the case of a manager defending his player. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday he disagreed with Green’s comments, but respected them. On Monday, Rizzo said he disagreed with Green’s characterization the play was a cheap shot. He maintained his stance on Tuesday. “It was just more of the intent of the slide,” Rizzo said. “If you want to say cheap shot, I could’ve gone in with my shoulder like a linebacker and really took a shot. I went in, kind of last second slide, not really sure where to go, and that’s his understanding of it, too. It’s not like I was going in trying to end Austin Hedges career. He’s trying to do the same thing I’m trying to do, and that’s try to win ballgames for his team and have a long career.”

Green said he has spoken to his team about playing Tuesday night and said he does not plan on allowing Monday’s incident to dictate how his team plays. Asked if he expects retaliation, Rizzo said he had no control over how the Padres play. “I’m going to be ready to hit,” said Rizzo, who has reached safely to lead off the game in six straight games. “If I get hit, it’s not going to be the last time. It’s certainly not the first time.” -- Chicago Sun-Times MLB says Rizzo violated collision rule, won’t face discipline By Chris De Luca Major League Baseball has notified the Cubs and San Diego Padres that Anthony Rizzo violated its rule on collisions at home plate, but Rizzo will not face any disciplinary action. “No discipline coming my way,” Rizzo said. “The league looked at it and it’s over with now.” MLB disciplinarian Joe Torre told Rizzo the collision violated Rule 7.13 that states “a runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate)…” Rizzo batting leadoff for the Cubs has become a nice sideshow to see whether their slugging first baseman can keep his streak of first-inning perfection alive. Rizzo has reached base in all six first-inning plate appearances as Cubs leadoff hitter — via two home runs, a double, a single, bunt single and walk. And if talk out of San Diego rings true, the most-hit batter in the big leagues might find a new way to reach base in the first inning tonight. The Padres are still smarting after Rizzo crashed into catcher Austin Hedges, sending him out of the game Monday with a bruised right thigh. Rizzo, by the way, was out on the play because a tumbling Hedges held onto the ball. In today’s San Diego Union-Tribune, revenge seems fresh on the mind of those Padres who felt Rizzo pulled off a dirty hit on the controversial collision. This is how reporter Dennis Lin’s account of the game ended: “The tension sparked in the sixth, however, seemed likely to carry over into the next day. ”‘We don’t feel good about the way that play transpired,’ [manager Andy] Green said.” For his part, Rizzo immediately defended his actions. “I don’t, by no means, think that’s a dirty play at all,” Rizzo said. “It was a hard slide. I play this game hard. For 162 games-plus, I pride myself on running the bases hard, doing everything hard. So I can’t see that being dirty.” Right-hander Jhoulys Chacin is scheduled to start tonight for the Padres. Rizzo is 4-for-8 with a home run during his career against Chacin. It should be noted that Chacin has never hit Rizzo with a pitch. Expect tensions to be extra high tonight at Wrigley. The Padres were clearly upset with Rizzo. He came up one more time Monday, in the seventh inning with two runners on base and the Padres trailing by one run — so the timing wasn’t right for any purpose pitches. Rizzo told David Kaplan on ESPN 1000 Tuesday that he wouldn’t put it past the Padres to retaliate. “Of course I feel like they’re going to have to do something. It’s a hard play that they see it differently,” Rizzo said. “But what are you going to do? What am I going to do — go up there scared?”

Judging from Twitter on Monday night, Padres watchers are not over this thing. -- Chicago Sun-Times Javy Baez strips down for ESPN’s ‘Body Issue’ By Madeline Kenney Cubs second baseman Javier Baez strips down for ESPN’s “Body Issue,” and showed how he’s not only physically strong, but how adversity in his childhood has made him mentally tougher. “I’ve learned to be strong. My father and my great-grandmother died within the very same week,” Baez told Marly Rivera for ESPN. “On the next Wednesday, I was mugged. I was 11 years old. I had a gun put next to my chest. I have lived a lot of different situations.” Baez also attributed his sister, Noely, for making him stronger and said she is his biggest inspiration. After battling with spina bifida, which made her unable to walk, Noely died in 2015 when she was 21. Baez said he still cries for her and when he goes home to Peurto Rico, he visits her grave. “I sit there and let it all out. Sometimes I go on my own,” Baez said. “I go there, sit down and talk to her. I laugh out loud remembering everything I have gone through with her. I told her about the World Series.” But Baez said he likes to keep his emotions on locked down and doesn’t like to show people how he truly feels. “Because of all the things I’ve gone through, I am not that emotional,” Baez said. “When we won the World Series, my girlfriend said to me, ‘Aren’t you excited?’ I keep my emotions in balance.” Baez was selected as one of the 23 athletes featured in this year’s “Body Issue” and he posed for one of the covers. But one aspect that makes Baez’s shoot more unique than others is the way his pictures were taken. Photographer Dylan Coulter used an iPhone 7 Plus to capture Baez’s shots. Coulter told USA Today that he was originally worried about using a smart phone rather than a high-caliber professional camera like he is accustomed to. “They mentioned they wanted to shoot in on an iPhone, so I was kind of mildly terrified until I really wrapped my head around it,” Coutler told USA Today. “Because the level and caliber of photography for the Body Issue is so high, the imagery is so strong that I of course wanted to be able to deliver that same caliber of imagery.” The “Body Issue,” featuring Baez, is scheduled to hit newsstands on July 7. -- Daily Herald For Chicago Cubs, pitching a priority By Bruce Miles The Chicago Cubs' front office has been remarkably patient with a team that has been mediocre this season. General manager Jed Hoyer says the players have earned that patience. "These are our guys," Hoyer said before Tuesday night's 4-0 victory over the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field. "We won a World Series with largely this roster. I think they've proven themselves. I think we owe it to them to be patient with them. Yeah, I certainly think the standings have benefited us. But there's a false sense of security with the standings.

"You try to assess yourself against .500. You try to assess yourself not looking at the other teams. We know we have the talent. We know the guys care. It's a matter of kind of finding our groove and getting it together, and I think we will. "I think we also have to have a little bit of patience the year after and realize there's some different factors that may impact performance. I guess we've been patient, but they've earned it." That doesn't mean Hoyer and team president Theo Epstein won't attempt to make trades before the July 31 nonwaiver deadline. The victory Tuesday moved the Cubs to 36-34. They are one-half game behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers (38-35) in the National League Central. Pitching remains a priority in trade talks. "We never rule out anything," Hoyer said. "If it makes us better, we'll talk about doing it. Pitching's a priority, now and this winter. We know that's organizationally where we need to go. But I don't think you ever rule out anything if you think it can help the team." That includes adding a hitter. The Cubs have tried to piece together the leadoff spot. Lately they've enjoyed success with first baseman Anthony Rizzo. He opened the bottom of the first Tuesday by hitting his 17th homer of the season and the third since manager Joe Maddon put him in the leadoff spot last week. He has reached safely to start each of the seven games he has been the leadoff hitter. "It's funny because I think there are plenty of guys on the roster that can be successful in that role," Hoyer said. "That hasn't happened yet this year with the exception of Rizzo, which I'm not sure that's a permanent solution. But it's worked so far. I'd never rule something out, but certainly our focus will be on the pitching side." Rizzo is rolling with it. "It's funny," he said. "I'm sure my teammates are starting to get a little tired of it because I'm constantly in their ears, nonstop, telling them, 'Make sure you don't miss it,' or, 'It's going to be 1-0,'' or, 'Watch this.' All in good fun and having fun with it." Pitcher, Mike Montgomery (1-3, 2.26 ERA) made his third start and worked 6 innings. He got his second run of support in the fourth, on an RBI single by Addison Russell. Ian Happ made it 3-0 with a leadoff homer in the eighth. Albert Almora Jr. drove in the final run with a double. -- Daily Herald MLB says Chicago Cubs' Rizzo violated rule, closes the issue By Bruce Miles Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo got "the call" Tuesday from Major League Baseball's Joe Torre about his running into San Diego Padres catcher Austin Hedges in Monday's 3-2 Cubs victory. Torre, baseball's chief disciplinarian, told Rizzo he indeed violated the rule against going out of one's way to initiate contact with the catcher at home plate. Rizzo's punishment was that Hedges held on to the ball and tagged him out. There will be no further action taken by MLB.

"I just had a good call with Mr. Torre," Rizzo said. "He explained the rule more in depth to me. He said according to the rules it was a violation. "There's not going to be any discipline because the way I explained it to him, the way I was going, there was zero intent to be malicious toward Austin Hedges. It was a good conversation, and I'm happy they came to closure on it. "I went in with a kind of last-second slide, not really sure what to do, where to go. That's his (Torre's) understanding of it, too. It's not like I was going in trying to end Austin Hedges' career." Rule 6.01 (I) states that "a runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate), or otherwise initiate an avoidable collision. If, in the judgment of the umpire, a runner attempting to score initiates contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate) in such a manner, the umpire shall declare the runner out (regardless of whether the player covering home plate maintains possession of the ball)." Rizzo was attempting to score on a flyball to center field by Kris Bryant. Former Cubs outfielder Matt Szczur threw Rizzo out as Rizzo crashed into Hedges. After the game, Padres manager Andy Green called the play a "cheap shot," but he stopped short of calling Rizzo a dirty player. "I stand pretty much by everything I said last night," Green said Tuesday. "I feel like it (Torre's ruling) was the right read on the situation. According to baseball, it is the right read. "I go back to what I said last night. I don't think in any way, shape or form he's a dirty baseball player. I think it's one of those plays he makes a decision in a split second. He violated a rule, a rule that's designed to protect the health of my catcher, the health of every catcher in baseball." Cub general manager Jed Hoyer said the rule is a good one. It was put in to protect catchers. "I think it's taken collisions out of the game," Hoyer said. "With concussions now, with the value of catchers, I don't think you want to see collisions. "Ultimately, I think his path deviated a little bit toward the catcher, which is obviously against the rules. I do think it's hard for the baserunner. You're trying to make a decision on exactly where to slide and when to slide." Still no-go for Heyward: Right fielder Jason Heyward was out of the starting lineup for a second straight game because of a scraped left hand. He suffered the injury going for a flyball Sunday at Pittsburgh. Manager Joe Maddon said there is no talk yet of putting Heyward on the disabled list. Heyward said he'd like to play Wednesday but that he had to be "realistic." Schwarber bruised: Left fielder Kyle Schwarber sat out at the start of Tuesday's game after fouling a pitch off his right ankle Monday. An X-ray was negative. "It looked like I had a baseball on my ankle," he said. "I felt like a ball was hit in the gap, I wasn't going to be able to make a play on it." --

Cubs.com Butler looking to help deliver sweep of Padres By Scott Chasen Padres rookie right-hander Miguel Diaz took a step forward with his second career start. He will next oppose Cubs righty Eddie Butler in Wednesday's series finale at Wrigley Field. Diaz (1-1, 7.36 ERA), who gave up four runs in 3 1/3 innings in his last start, is stretched out and he is expected to go longer. Diaz will continue to fill in until Jarred Cosart returns from the disabled list, though Diaz is expected to return to a starting role in the future. Butler (3-2, 4.41) has struggled in his career against the Padres, posting a 7.41 ERA over 17 innings, which included an outing earlier this year where he gave up seven hits and six runs in only 4 1/3 innings. The Cubs are looking to make up ground in a tight National League Central race. "First of all, our goal is to win the division," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. "That goes without saying. I will say, right now, those teams [in the Wild Card race] are well ahead and have a huge lead in the Wild Card. It's a long season and a lot of things happen. Our focus is totally on the division and that should be our focus. That's our mindset all the time." Things to know about this game • Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo extended his career-high hitting streak to 14 games with a home run in the first inning. In Rizzo's seven starts in the leadoff spot he has a perfect 1.000 OBP, producing three home runs, two singles, a double and a walk. • While Diaz's numbers aren't spectacular, he has been better of late -- even factoring in his most recent start. Since allowing nine runs in two relief outings on May 5-6, he has made seven relief appearances and two starts, allowing a total of seven earned runs. His ERA for that stretch is 4.20. • Out of 94 total pitches in his last outing, Butler managed just two swinging strikes (2.1 percent), his lowest rate out of 35 career starts. However, his 17 called strikes tied for his second-highest total, according to Statcast. -- Cubs.com Cubs blank Padres as Rizzo's jack sets tone By Carrie Muskat and AJ Cassavell CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo smacked his third leadoff home run in the last seven games and rookie Ian Happ hit his ninth homer to back Mike Montgomery and lift the Cubs to a 4-0 victory on Tuesday night over the Padres, who lost for the fourth time in their last five games. With the win and a Brewers loss, the Cubs moved to a half-game back in the National League Central Division. Rizzo apparently wasn't thrown off following Monday night's controversial collision with Padres catcher Austin Hedges at home plate. Earlier in the day, Rizzo talked to Major League Baseball officials and was told he'd violated Rule 6.01(c), but he wouldn't receive any further discipline from the league in the form of a fine or a suspension. Rizzo's response? He launched the second pitch from Padres starter Jhoulys Chacin to center for his 17th home run. "As long as we keep winning, I have no problem with it," Rizzo said about leading off. "I have no problem going back to third or fourth or wherever Joe [Maddon] feels is best for the club. The main thing is we keep winning." The Cubs also tallied on Addison Russell's RBI single in the fourth, and Happ's leadoff homer in the eighth, which traveled a Statcast-projected 415 feet. Albert Almora Jr. added a pinch-hit RBI double in the eighth as well.

Montgomery, making his third start subbing for Kyle Hendricks, threw six shutout innings, giving up three hits and striking out four. The lefty got some help, including a nice play by second baseman Javier Baez, who made a sliding stop of Franchy Cordero's ball with one out in the sixth and was able to get to his feet in time to throw him out at first. "I think this time, having the extra day [between starts], really gave me a chance to get my legs under me more," Montgomery said. "I felt strong, even towards the end. I just have to try to keep that going." Montgomery is part of a good trend. Cubs starting pitchers are 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA in the last seven games, limiting opponents to a .193 average. They've also had three straight quality starts for the first time since May 31-June 3. Chacin, meanwhile, posted his best start of the season away from Petco Park, as he lowered his road ERA to 9.08 (compared with a 1.72 mark at home). He struck out six and allowed two runs on five hits over six frames, his fourth straight quality start. But the Padres -- who are 0-for-17 with men in scoring position this series -- found themselves in an early hole after Chacin misplaced a fastball to Rizzo. "I was trying to go down and away, and the ball stayed down and in the middle," Chacin said. "He hit it well. He's been swinging the bat really well lately, and you have to execute better pitches to him." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Leadoff man: It's been one week since Rizzo moved into the leadoff spot, and he's made the most of it. In seven games in the No. 1 spot in the order, Rizzo now has three home runs, a double, two singles and drawn a walk in his first at-bat. Rizzo also extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games, and he has 11 extra-base hits and 17 RBIs in that stretch. According to STATS Inc., Rizzo is the only player in the Majors to reach base in his first seven career games as a leadoff hitter since at least 1974. The last Cubs leadoff batter to reach base in seven straight games was Richie Ashburn, who did it June 28-July 3, 1960. "Whenever you have your name on the board compared to Richie Ashburn, that's pretty significant," Maddon said. De-Fense: Chacin escaped a few jams, getting inning-ending double plays in the second and again in the fourth. The Cubs loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on singles by Willson Contreras, Russell and Miguel Montero. Chacin got Baez to hit a grounder to first baseman Wil Myers, who threw out Contreras at home without incident. Pinch-hitter Tommy La Stella then grounded out to second baseman Chase d'Arnaud. QUOTABLE "Whenever [Montgomery] pitches, the projected ground ball percentage is very high. It was good to have the boys out there [in the infield] under those circumstances. We looked somewhat normal on the infield. We played that normal kind of Cub infield game that we've gotten used to over the last two years. It was really fun to watch." -- Maddon, on the infield defense "I was trying to pitch my game. I had a meeting with [manager Andy Green], and he asked me to give my word I won't hit him on purpose. He asked me to pitch inside to try to get him out instead of putting him on first base. I was trying to do that, I was trying to make good pitches to him, and he hit a homer. That wasn't the result I was looking for. In the second AB, I got him out by pitching inside." -- Chacin, on his approach against Rizzo after Monday's collision SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Rizzo is the first Cubs player with three leadoff homers in one month since Alfonso Soriano hit three in April 2009. REPLAY REVIEW

With two out in the eighth and Baez at third, Albert Almora Jr. hit a ball into the gap in right center. Baez scored and Almora tried to reach third on his hit, but he was out on a 9-6-5 relay. The Cubs challenged, and after a review, the call was ruled to stand. INJURY UPDATE Padres second baseman Yangervis Solarte was scratched because of a strained left oblique. Solarte was in the starting lineup, but d'Arnaud took the field at second in the bottom of the first. Solarte was batting .393 (11-for-28) with five homers and eight RBIs over his last seven games. WHAT'S NEXT Padres: Rookie Miguel Diaz is slated for his third career start, when the Padres wrap up the three-game set at Wrigley Field on Wednesday at 11:20 a.m. PT. The Rule 5 right-hander, who has yet to throw more than 66 pitches in an outing this year, will be looking to stake his claim for a longer-term place in the rotation. Cubs: Right-hander Eddie Butler will start the series finale against the Padres, making his eighth start of the season, on Wednesday at 1:20 p.m. CT. In his last outing against the Pirates, he got a no-decision, giving up four earned runs over 5 2/3 innings. -- Cubs.com Lead-er of the pack: Rizzo HR extends streak By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo is making it look easy. For the seventh straight game, Rizzo reached base in his first at-bat, this time with a leadoff home run in Tuesday night's 4-0 win over the Padres. "Anthony did it again, jump-starting the offense," manager Joe Maddon said of Rizzo, who now has three leadoff home runs, a double, two singles and a walk since moving to the top of the order one week ago. The Cubs are now 5-2 with Rizzo leading off. He launched the second pitch from Padres starter Jhoulys Chacin to center for his 17th home run of the season, and Rizzo has yet to make an out in his first at-bat. "I was trying to go down and away, and the ball stayed down and in the middle," Chacin said. "He hit it well. He's been swinging the bat really well lately, and you have to execute better pitches to him." "It's funny," said Rizzo, who extended his hit streak to a career-high 14 games. "I'm sure my teammates are starting to get a little tired of it because I'm constantly in their ears, nonstop, telling them to make sure you don't miss it or 'Watch this.' It's all in good fun and I'm having fun with it." The home run was well struck, traveling a projected 432 feet with an exit velocity of 107 mph, according to Statcast™. Rizzo joins Richie Ashburn as the only Cubs leadoff hitters to reach safely in seven straight games. Ashburn did it from June 28-July 3, 1960. "Whenever you have your name on the board compared to Richie Ashburn, that's pretty significant," Maddon said. Kyle Schwarber was projected as the Cubs' leadoff man this season, but he struggled, batting .185. Maddon has also inserted Ben Zobrist, Jon Jay, Ian Happ and Javier Baez at the top of the order. "As long as we keep winning, I have no problem with it," Rizzo said. "I have no problem going back to third or fourth or wherever Joe feels is best for the club. The main thing is we keep winning." When your leadoff man is batting .429 (12-for-28) with 10 RBIs in seven games, why change it?

"On a nightly basis, he's ready, he's chirpy, he's ready to go, and he's loving this," Maddon said. "He's helping us out incredibly." -- Cubs.com Rizzo won't face discipline for slide into Hedges By AJ Cassavell CHICAGO -- A day after his controversial collision with Padres catcher Austin Hedges, Anthony Rizzo received a call from the Commissioner's Office. The message: He'd violated Rule 6.01(i) on Monday night's play at the plate during the Cubs' 3-2 victory . But Rizzo wouldn't receive any further discipline from the league in the form of a fine or a suspension. On the sixth-inning play, Rizzo attempted to tag up from third base on Kris Bryant's fly ball. But Matt Szczur's throw to the plate arrived well ahead of Rizzo. Major League Baseball deemed that Hedges offered Rizzo an appropriate path to the plate. Rizzo initiated contact nonetheless, sending Hedges flying backward. Hedges was knocked from the game with a bruised right thigh, and he wasn't in the starting lineup on Tuesday night -- though the Padres don't expect Hedges to be out much longer. "It was a bad slide," Hedges said. "I clearly gave him the plate. He went out of his way and got me pretty good." The bylaw in question states, "A runner may not run out of a direct line to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher," and it later clarifies, "The umpire will consider such factors as whether the runner made an effort to touch the plate and whether he lowered his shoulder." Implemented in 2014, no player has received discipline for a violation. The rule merely stipulates that the runner be called out, and since Hedges held onto the baseball, Rizzo was out anyway. Still, Rizzo's slide was enough to prompt a call from Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre. "We spoke, and he explained the rule a little more in depth to me, said according to the rule it was a violation, but there's not going to be discipline because the way I slid into him and the way I was going, it was zero intent to be malicious toward Austin Hedges," Rizzo said. "It was a good conversation, and I'm happy they came to closure on it." Padres manager Andy Green wasn't surprised by MLB's decision not to discipline Rizzo, noting the lack of precedent. But he turned the conversation to the health of Hedges, a young catcher who the Padres view as a cornerstone to build around. Green said he doesn't view an "out" call as a significant deterrent. Without harsher consequences, Green said, "it's just open season" on catchers. "I don't think in any way, shape or form he's a dirty baseball player," Green said of Rizzo. "It was one of those plays where you make a decision in a split-second, and you violate the rule -- a rule designed to protect the health of my catcher." In the immediate aftermath, Maddon heaped praise on Rizzo's aggressiveness. He took a lighter tone on Tuesday, but noted that he firmly believes Rizzo was within the rules. "Their catcher did everything right," Maddon said. "Anthony did the right thing by attempting to score a run, which is the whole purpose of playing baseball. It was a good baseball play, and I want to compliment the Padres, because they're the ones who won the moment."

Said Green: "There's aggression we all celebrate in the game of baseball, and there's aggression that's probably too far. I clearly sit on the opposite side of the fence from Joe on this one and think that aggression was too far." Hedges called his day-to-day thigh injury "best-case scenario," given the force of the impact. The rule was implemented largely in response to Buster Posey's fractured leg following a similar collision with Miami's Scott Cousins. "Apparently there was some confusion," Hedges said. "[The rule] seemed pretty clear to me. I thought I gave him the opportunity to follow that rule, and he didn't." Rizzo, who was apologetic for the injury itself, maintained his belief that he was trying to play the game hard, noting the split-second nature of his decision. "It wasn't like I was going in trying to end Austin Hedges' career," Rizzo said. "He's trying to do the same thing I'm trying to do, and that's win ballgames for his team and have a long career. It's not like I'm going in trying to hurt him." -- Cubs.com Cubs eyeing pitching ahead of Trade Deadline By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Now that the Major League Draft is over, teams turn their focus to the non-waiver Trade Deadline. Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said the phone traffic with other GMs has picked up since the Draft ended last week. "The pitching is a priority now," Hoyer said on Tuesday about the Cubs' wish list. "Organizationally, that's where we need to go." The Cubs are in the market for pitching because they've already had to dip into their reserve with Kyle Hendricks (inflammation right hand) and Brett Anderson (back) going on the disabled list. What about a leadoff hitter? Anthony Rizzo has had success there, but could the Cubs be looking for someone to handle that spot in the order? "We have plenty of guys on the roster who can be successful in that role," Hoyer said. "It hasn't happened yet this year with the exception of Rizzo. I'm not sure that's a permanent solution." Worth noting • Jason Heyward did not start on Tuesday for the second straight game after he scraped his left hand sliding on the warning track in Pittsburgh trying to catch a foul ball. Heyward has had trouble gripping the bat and throwing. "It was freaky," Heyward said. "I usually don't get bothered by stuff but I didn't realize it happened and I got up and looked down at my hand and I was like, 'What's on my hand?' and it was actually my hand and my skin. It was a big flap of skin and I took it off." Heyward had to call time and get his hand taped because it was starting to bleed. He needs a scab to form on his hand so he can grip a bat and throw. "There's no skin there," Heyward said. "That's the tough part -- it has to heal first." • Kyle Schwarber was available to pinch-hit despite having to come out of Monday's game when he fouled a ball off his right ankle in the fourth inning.

"It's a little sore," Schwarber said. "I didn't bruise it, but it looked like I had a baseball in my shoe. It kept getting tighter and tighter." -- Cubs.com Cahill, Richard receive WS rings from Cubs By AJ Cassavell CHICAGO -- Upon their return to Wrigley Field this week, Padres pitchers Clayton Richard and Trevor Cahill had 14 karats of white gold and 108 diamonds awaiting them. Each pitcher played a part in the Cubs' 2016 World Series championship run and received their rings in the hours before Tuesday's game. The duo met with Cubs president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, where they were presented with their mementos without any fanfare. Neither Richard nor Cahill pitched for the Cubs in the postseason last year. Cahill posted a 2.74 ERA in 50 appearances during the regular season, but he was left off the playoff roster. "The experience is something you're going to hold in high regard," Cahill said. "I wasn't on the roster, but they let me travel, and I think that's the biggest part -- being able to be a part of that, going through the ceremony, celebrating with the guys. The ring is just icing on the cake." Richard, meanwhile, was released in July before signing with the Padres in August. Still, his 25 relief appearances for the Cubs last season earned him some hardware. "It was a special part of my career, here," Richard said. "[The ring] represents the time with those teammates. That's the biggest thing. Those were a special group of guys that I got to be a part of." Richard, who grew up a Cubs fan in Lafayette, Ind., was quick to note, "I don't wear jewelry." Moments after he received his ring, he gave it to his sister to ship it to his father. Unlike Cahill, Richard wasn't a part of the raucous celebrations last November. But he was tuned in every step of the way. "Unfortunately, I watched it on TV, because clearly you'd rather be playing in October," Richard said. "I watched every game. It was difficult to watch at points. But it was also fun. I really wanted those guys to do well, because I knew everything they had put into it -- the work and what it took for them to get to that spot. So I was very much a fan." Padres outfielder Matt Szczur, also with the Cubs last season, had already received his ring by the time the Padres claimed him off waivers in May. As for Richard and Cahill, Hoyer expressed his excitement at being able to present them with their rings. "The reality of having a World Series ring, that's something you play for your whole career," Hoyer said. "For guys who've never gotten one, to put it on their finger and look at it, there's always that moment: 'This is mine. I'm not trying on a buddy's, this is my ring.' They were just as excited as everyone. it's been a really fun part of the year." -- ESPNChicago.com MLB says Anthony Rizzo won't be disciplined after violating home-plate collision rule Monday By Staff

Major League Baseball informed the Cubs and San Diego on Tuesday that Chicago first baseman Anthony Rizzo violated the home-plate collision rule in Monday's game against the Padres but will not be disciplined. Rizzo was attempting to score from third base on a lineout to center field by Kris Bryant in the bottom of the sixth inning when he slammed into Padres catcher Austin Hedges. Rizzo's left shoulder caught Hedges square in the right thigh and midsection, and Hedges fell over backward, holding on to the ball for an inning-ending double play. "It's an instinct play, there's no intent to be malicious toward Austin Hedges, toward the San Diego Padres, it wasn't a statement," Rizzo said. "It's a tough baseball rule and there's a lot of gray area. "The league looked at it, and it's over with now." "It was a bad slide," Hedges said Tuesday. "I clearly gave him the plate. He went out of his way, got me pretty good. It was just too bad. I thought I gave him enough plate to go ahead and slide." Hedges was out of the lineup Tuesday. The catcher hopes to play Wednesday in the finale of the three-game series. Rizzo said he spoke with Joe Torre, MLB's chief baseball officer, who told him he was in violation of Rule 7.13, which MLB introduced in 2014 to protect catchers from such collisions. Under the rule, a player may not run out of direct line to the plate to initiate contact with the fielder, meaning the runner can't go out of his way to plow through the catcher. Hedges remained on his knees for several moments before slowly getting to his feet and leaving the game with a bruised thigh. He was replaced by Luis Torrens. Rizzo was called out on the play. The Cubs went on to win 3-2. After the game, Padres manager Andy Green called Rizzo's slam into Hedges a "cheap shot." "It's a fairly egregious violation of the rule,'' Green said. "The rule exists to protect the catcher. The safety of the catcher is more in jeopardy now when you have the rule to protect you, because you're not expecting to get hit when you give a guy a plate like that. "I'm not saying he's a dirty player at all -- nobody is saying that -- but he clearly deviated from his path to hit our catcher, took our catcher out. [The] rule exists to protect him. It's a disheartening play to see come about like that.'' Cubs manager Joe Maddon defended the play. "First of all, to call it a dirty play is absolutely wrong," Maddon said Tuesday. "It's not a dirty play. That's something people have been taught to say based on this ambiguous rule that's been created. I'll concede that part of it. But it's not a dirty play. So whoever's saying that, just please drop that narrative, because that's not true. "If you look at it really closely, the catcher starts moving toward Anthony as he catches the ball, as he's supposed to. I have no idea what Anthony's supposed to do in an attempt to be safe. The object is to score a run and be safe, and I think Anthony's best method of doing that was to do what he did." Maddon said it would be "egregious" if the Padres tried to retaliate for the play in Tuesday's game. Green indicated to San Diego's 1090 AM that the Padres will not seek retaliation. "What do you accomplish by hitting somebody? You accomplish nothing," he said. "You put a man on first base, and you give them an opportunity to win a baseball game. ... I think it's absolutely asinine to even take that approach."

-- CSNChicago.com Anthony Rizzo Continues To Be The Greatest Leadoff Hitter Of All-Time, Starts Things With Homer In Cubs' Blanking Of Padres By Staff The question coming into Tuesday night's game was whether the San Diego Padres were going to hit Anthony Rizzo after Monday night's now-infamous play at the plate. Instead, Rizzo hit them. The Cubs' unconventional leadoff man continued to be the greatest top-of-the-order hitter in baseball history Tuesday night, belting his third leadoff homer in the last seven games to get things started in a 4-0 win for the North Siders at Wrigley Field. Rizzo has now reached safely to start all seven games since taking over as the Cubs' leadoff man. He has three homers, a double, a couple singles and a walk in those seven games. That's a perfect 1.000 on-base percentage for those scoring at home. Rizzo, who also has a career-best 14-game hit streak, became the first Cubs player to reach base to lead off a game in seven straight contests since 1960. But while Rizzo will grab headlines and highlights, give Mike Montgomery credit for silencing the Padres in his six innings of shutout ball. He gave up just three hits and walked two before handing things over to the Cubs' bullpen, which went three scoreless innings. An Addison Russell base hit scored Kris Bryant to make it a 2-0 game in the fourth. Ian Happ belted the ninth home run of his young career in the eighth to make it 3-0, and an Albert Almora Jr. double brought home Javier Baez in that same frame to eliminate the save situation. The Cubs will wrap their brief home stand with Wednesday's series finale against the Padres, sending Eddie Butler to the mound in quest of a three-game sweep. -- CSNChicago.com Another Way To Think About Cubs Making Big Deal For Pitching At Trade Deadline By Patrick Mooney The Cubs know agents and other teams will sense the desperation if they have to replace 40 percent of their rotation this offseason. Signing at least two frontline starters would be a massive undertaking and a huge financial commitment for a franchise that prefers to make long-term investments in hitters and use a pay-as-you-go plan for pitching. Now the Cubs see the July 31 trade deadline as a chance to get a jump on that market, so they don’t feel forced to win two bidding wars on free agents or rushed into a lopsided deal for the top-of-the-rotation starter every contender wants. That one big-picture idea gives more insight into Theo Epstein’s front office than the daily stock reports on a 36-34 Cubs team that’s up after Tuesday night’s 4-0 win over the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field. Kicking the can down the road might not make as much sense this time. “Every transaction season — winter and summer — we’re always going to be looking for pitching,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “That will be our priority here at the deadline. We’re obviously working hard to assess it, making all the contacts and scouting everyone.

“But pitching’s always in high demand. That’s the reality of needing pitching — both in the winter and the summer — it’s always what people are looking for.” The Cubs got creative last summer and flipped a redundant minor-league hitter (Dan Vogelbach) to the Seattle Mariners for the guy who would get the final out in the 10th inning of a World Series Game 7 (Mike Montgomery). The Cubs don’t believe that moment alone will define the lefty swingman, who continues to look like a short-term fix and a long-range answer for a rotation that will see Jake Arrieta and John Lackey become free agents after this season. Following the game plan, Montgomery (1-3, 2.26 ERA) shut down the Padres for six innings, getting 12 groundball outs and four strikeouts while allowing only three singles and two walks. Last season’s best-in-baseball rotation needs new blood, but the Cubs aren’t going anywhere if they can’t count on Arrieta (6-5, 4.64 ERA) and Lackey (5-7, 4.98 ERA) from one start to the next. Kyle Hendricks, last season’s major-league ERA leader, doesn’t know when his right hand tendinitis will subside and allow him to be activated from the disabled list. Beyond the daunting task of trying to handle all their pitching business in one winter, the Cubs are only a half-game behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. No team in the National League Central right now can match this combination of on-paper talent, position-player depth, big-market resources and playoff-tested experience. But even 70 games into the season, Cubs officials still don’t have a great feel for how ultra-aggressive to be (or not) at the end of July and what to make of the defending champs, beyond stressing how much they believe in this group. “Still assessing,” Hoyer said. “We just haven’t been able to get away from .500 yet. I fully believe we will. I have confidence we will. But it’s just been one of those things where it feels like we’ve had win one, lose one, win two, lose two. Hopefully, we’ll get out of that trend and start getting away from .500 a little bit. “The division thing is a false sense of security. I try to measure our team way more against .500, against how we look (on the field) than how we look in the standings, because I think how you look in the standings can be a little bit misleading.” That eye test might take almost six more weeks, as buyers and sellers clearly emerge. Hoyer already noticed how much the trade chatter picked up once the draft ended last week. Nothing this summer will feel quite like the single-minded pursuit of Aroldis Chapman and the mythical 108-year quest. But instead of thinking about it like mortgaging the farm system, maybe this deadline will actually be planning for the future. -- CSNChicago.com Jason Heyward Could Be Next High-Profile Player Cubs Move To Disabled List By Patrick Mooney The Cubs already have a Cy Young Award finalist and a World Series MVP on the disabled list. It sounds like Gold Glove outfielder Jason Heyward could soon join Kyle Hendricks (right hand tendinitis) and Ben Zobrist (left wrist inflammation) there as the injuries keep piling up for the defending champs. “I don’t have a timetable,” Heyward said Tuesday at Wrigley Field. “I don’t know if it’s tomorrow. I don’t know if it’s two days from now.” Heyward cut open his left hand on Sunday while trying to make a diving catch in PNC Park’s foul territory, the bleeding forcing him to leave that win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Heyward saw the skin hanging off and later posted a photo of the wound on his Instagram account.

While the Cubs try to gain traction above .500, former Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta has been dealing with a blister/cut issue on his right thumb that can be traced back to spring training (on top of the postseason wear and tear also felt by Hendricks, Jon Lester and John Lackey). Heyward — who has already been on the disabled list with a sprained right finger this season — is hitting .258 with six homers, 29 RBIs and a .714 OPS after a much-publicized swing overhaul. The Cubs aren’t letting Heyward pick up a bat now, knowing he needs time to let a scab form and prevent infection. “I don’t know when we’re looking,” Heyward said. “I hope tomorrow, but I got to be realistic with it. I can’t wiggle my way out of this one with the staff. I can’t tell them: ‘No, I’m going to go do this.’ “I don’t know what’s going to happen. In this game, you can’t rule anything out.” -- CSNChicago.com No MLB Discipline — Or Retaliation From Padres — As Anthony Rizzo Stays Hot In Cubs Leadoff Spot By Patrick Mooney Major League Baseball won’t discipline Anthony Rizzo for knocking San Diego Padres catcher Austin Hedges out of Monday night’s game, even though chief baseball officer Joe Torre found that the Cubs superstar violated the collision rule. That interpretation of intent will hang over the next two games at Wrigley Field, waiting to see if the Padres retaliate for what manager Andy Green called a “cheap shot” against one of their building-block players. “I can’t control what they do,” Rizzo said Tuesday afternoon, pointing out the way the Padres attacked him last month. “They throw inside, most likely, on the second pitch. If you look at the games back in San Diego, every second pitch last time was at me. It’s just part of the game. “Just be ready to hit. If I get hit, I get hit. It’s certainly not the first time.” Rizzo blasted Jhoulys Chacin’s second 93-mph fastball 432 feet over the center-field wall, setting the first-inning tone in a 4-0 win and giving him his third leadoff homer within the last seven games. The San Diego Union Tribune quoted Chacin postgame: “I had a meeting with Andy, and he asked me to give my word I won’t hit (Rizzo) on purpose.” Rizzo — a left-handed slugger who crowds the plate — is already tied for the major-league lead after getting hit by 12 pitches so far this season. While the Hedges crash went viral, Rizzo explained his side of the story to Torre, the Hall of Famer who caught more than 7,400 innings in the majors and now oversees umpiring and on-field operations and discipline. “We were pretty much on the same page, as far as it’s an instinct play,” Rizzo said. “There was no intent to be malicious towards Austin Hedges. It wasn’t a statement. It’s just one of those plays where my instincts took over.” Rizzo again stood at his locker, faced the cameras and tried to shrug off the entire incident, from Green making it a much bigger story with his postgame comments to the media — “it’s a manager backing his player” — to Hedges dealing with a bruised right thigh and being kept out of Tuesday’s lineup. “Yeah, if I see him,” Rizzo said when asked if he’ll be in contact with Hedges. “From what I understand, he’s all right. He’s just banged up a little bit. “It’s just one of those weird plays. I’m ready to move on.”

Rizzo’s defense amounted to the series of split-second decisions made while reading Kris Bryant’s low line drive, tagging up from third base, accounting for Matt Szczur’s bouncing throw from center field and trying to find an angle to home plate against Hedges. “I don’t expect retaliation,” manager Joe Maddon said. “There was no intent on our part to injure anybody. That was an intent to score a run. And at the end of the night, you try to score one more than they do. That’s all that was going on. “That was a good baseball play. Period.” Even a Cubs official admitted that Rizzo ran outside the base path, but not in such an egregious way that he should become a new precedent for a gray-area rule. Even the Padres acknowledged that Rizzo doesn’t have the reputation of being a dirty player. “You got to play this game on instinct,” Rizzo said. “I play this game on instincts all the time. They take over and most of the time you have to live and die by your decision.” -- CSNChicago.com Report: MLB Rules Anthony Rizzo's Controversial Slide Illegal By Tony Andracki The San Diego Padres have some validation. According to FOXSports' Ken Rosenthal, Major League Baseball told both the Cubs and Padres that Anthony Rizzo's controversial slide at home plate Monday night was illegal. Rule 7.13, also known as the Posey Rule, was enacted in 2014 to limit contact at home plate. While attempting to score on Kris Bryant's lineout to center field in the sixth inning Monday, Rizzo plowed into Padres catcher Austin Hedges, who had to leave the game with a bruised thigh. Here's the play again: Hedges held on to the ball, so Rizzo was out anyways. Had Hedges dropped the ball, the umpires could've gone to video replay to rule Rizzo out and Padres manager Andy Green could have challenged if need be. According to Rosenthal, Joe Torre and MLB are determining whether or not Rizzo will face any sort of repercussions for the contact at home plate, but the league has yet to suspend any player for violating the rule. Here is the complete summary for Rule 7.13: 1. A runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate). If, in the judgment of the Umpire, a runner attempting to score initiates contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate) in such a manner, the Umpire shall declare the runner out (even if the player covering home plate loses possession of the ball). In such circumstances, the Umpire shall call the ball dead, and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the collision. Rule 7.13 Comment: The failure by the runner to make an effort to touch the plate, the runner's lowering of the shoulder, or the runner's pushing through with his hands, elbows or arms, would support a determination that the runner deviated from the pathway in order to initiate contact with the catcher in violation of Rule 7.13. If the runner slides into the plate in an appropriate manner, he shall not be adjudged to have violated Rule 7.13. A slide shall be deemed appropriate, in the case of a feet first slide, if the runner's buttocks and legs should hit the ground before contact with the catcher. In the case of a head first slide, a runner shall be deemed to have slid appropriately if his body should hit the ground before contact with the catcher.

2. Unless the catcher is in possession of the ball, the catcher cannot block the pathway of the runner as he is attempting to score. If, in the judgment of the Umpire, the catcher without possession of the ball blocks the pathway of the runner, the Umpire shall call or signal the runner safe. Notwithstanding the above, it shall not be considered a violation of this Rule 7.13 if the catcher blocks the pathway of the runner in order to field a throw, and the Umpire determines that the catcher could not have fielded the ball without blocking the pathway of the runner and that contact with the runner was unavoidable. Rizzo said he has talked to umpires about the play and believes his slide was within the rules. Green called it a "cheap shot" Monday evening. -- CSNChicago.com Javy Baez Is All Kinds Of Naked In The New ESPN Body Issue By Tony Andracki Another year, another Cub sending nudes to ESPN. Javy Baez is following in Jake Arrieta's footsteps, joining ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue 2017: Beyond the racy photos, Baez gets personal in the interview for the magazine, talking about his sister, Noely, who died at the age of 21 in 2015. The co-NLCS MVP also goes behind his lightning-quick tags, how he actually had problems walking as a baby and Joe Maddon's message to him before the 2016 season. -- CSNChicago.com The Padres Actually Have A Point When It Comes To Anthony Rizzo's Controversial Slide At Home Plate By Tony Andracki As Anthony Rizzo streaked toward home plate in the sixth inning, nobody knew it was about to be the most-talked about play in baseball for a news cycle (or longer). Rizzo smacked into San Diego Padres catcher Austin Hedges, attemping to jar the ball loose and score an all-important run in a close game at Wrigley Field. The play is a rarity in this game now, as MLB rules have changed to try avoid home plate collisions and keep players on the field. The Cubs backed Rizzo and didn't think he did anything wrong. The Padres were upset, with manager Andy Green calling it a "cheap shot." Who's in the right? Let's treat this like an internet court case: RIZZO'S CASE Anthony Rizzo said it's "game on."

The face of the Cubs doesn't think he was in the wrong with his slide, saying, "By no means do I think that's a dirty play at all. I've talked to a lot of umpires about this rule. And my understanding is: If they have the ball, it's game on. "I went pretty much straight in. He caught the ball. He went towards the plate. It's a play where I'm out by two steps. I slide, he runs into me. It's just one of those plays where it's unfortunate he had to exit." Rizzo hopped on David Kaplan's ESPN 1000 radio show Tuesday and reiterated it was not a dirty play and instead was a "hard baseball play." Rizzo has a very solid point, especially if that's how MLB umpires are explaining it to him. If a catcher is blocking the plate, why should a player just lay down and slide into a catcher's shinguards and risk injury to himself? Cubs manager Joe Maddon backed the face of the franchise: “I’d much prefer what Rizz did tonight. And what he did was right, absolutely right, so there’s nothing wrong with that. Nobody could tell me differently. “It’s a good play. The catcher’s in the way. You don’t try to avoid him in an effort to score and hurt yourself. You hit him, just like Rizz did.” Even Jon Lester had Rizzo's back: "He caught the ball. He protected the plate. And Rizz had nowhere to go." To a man, the Cubs don't think Rizzo's slide was wrong. Of course not. Why would they think he was wrong? The umpires did not throw Rizzo out of the game. A couple years ago, the collision at the plate was just a part of the game. THE PADRES' CASE First off: Hedges was not blocking the plate. He did have the ball, so we can all agree there. But he was in front of the plate. No part of him blocked Rizzo's path to the plate, as these images and GIFs show from the Padres broadcast: The Padres have a very solid case here. Rizzo went out of his way to go after Hedges. Why? Not because Rizzo is a dirty player. The Padres can think that, but come on. He's the face of the Cubs, he does not have a reputation as a dirty player and as Patrick Mooney said early Tuesday morning, why would Rizzo need to send a message to the hapless Padres of all teams? Rizzo is ultra-competitive and wants to win. He was out by several steps on that throw from former Cub Matt Szczur, so Rizzo went at Hedges in an effort to knock the ball loose. He wanted to win and he made a split-second decision to try to give his team an advantage while playing within the rules as he understands them. That's not dirty. But that also doesn't mean the Padres shouldn't be upset. They have every right to be. IN CONCLUSION Rizzo has a point, especially if umpires or the league have explained to him that he can hit the catcher if he's in the way. But the Padres have a point in that Major League Baseball has tried to reduce — or completely eliminate — any contact at home plate whenever possible. And in the case of Monday night, it was very possible contact could have been avoided. It actually would've been easy to avoid contact here.

So the Padres and their fans and broadcasters have every right to be upset. The Cubs have every right to defend Rizzo (and they absolutely should until proven otherwise). The Cubs should just avoid making statements talking about Hedges blocking the plate, because he was not. Rizzo could've easily slid around Hedges and gone toward the back side of home plate. Of course, we're watching it in slow motion and the game doesn't happen in slow motion. The players don't operate or make decisions in slow motion. It all happens very quickly and in this case, it very well may be possible that Rizzo's split-second decision was wrong. But if so — if Rizzo is in the wrong here — then MLB needs to step in here and explain it and use it as an example to teach and inform. Will Rizzo get suspended for this play? I honestly don't know. Probably not, but it's possible. Players have gotten suspended for less and the league is trying hard to avoid "The Buster Posey Play" where the San Francisco Giants superstar broke his leg on a similar home plate collision. It's unfortunate Hedges was injured on the play. Everybody is in agreement there, from Rizzo to Lester to Maddon to everybody in the Padres camp. Regardless of if Hedges was injured or not, the Padres do have a strong case in being upset by the play. -- CSNChicago.com Padres Manager Accuses Rizzo Of 'Cheap Shot,' And Padres Radio Twitter Refuses To Stay Classy, San Diego By Staff What at the time was a game-saving play ended up being mighty costly for the San Diego Padres on Monday night at Wrigley Field — and manager Andy Green was none too pleased. Green voiced his displeasure postgame with what he called a "cheap shot" executed by Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo in what ended up a 3-2 win for the North Siders. In the sixth inning, the Padres had a 2-1 lead, only for Rizzo to start that frame with a triple. But after an Ian Happ strikeout, Kris Bryant lined a pitch to former Cub Matt Szczur in center field, and Szczur delivered a strike to home plate to nail Rizzo for an inning-ending double play that momentarily kept the Padres in front. But that wasn't all, as Rizzo crashed into Padres catcher Austin Hedges at the plate, the full momentum of the big first baseman knocking Hedges over and forcing him to leave the game with a bruised thigh. After the game, Green — who said Hedges probably won't be able to play Tuesday — was none too happy with Rizzo's actions. Take a listen: Unsurprisingly, Rizzo, Joe Maddon and Rizzo's teammates didn't see anything wrong with Rizzo's play at the plate, a one-time baseball frequency now turned rarity thanks to the "Buster Posey Rule." That rule has now made it so every time there's some contact, one manager or another is unhappy. Monday night, it was Green playing that role. As he mentioned, the rule states that a runner can't leave his "direct pathway" with the intent of making contact with the catcher. Did Rizzo violate the rule? The umpires didn't really need to make that decision because Hedges held on to the ball for an inning-ending double play. If the umpire thought Rizzo did do that and Hedges had lost the ball, a

hypothetical run could've been taken off the board and a double play could've been called. But Hedges kept the ball, so Rizzo was out anyway and we're left with two teams defining "cheap shot." Indeed, it's not difficult to imagine Maddon being upset had his catcher been the one run into at home plate — and his managerial ire was on display earlier this season when a contact play at second base went against the Cubs in St. Louis. But now we have a new controversy on our hands in a series with two games to go, a fact so inelegantly pointed out by the @PadresRadio Twitter account. You know this seems like an all-too-obvious joke, but ... stay classy, San Diego. --