October 30, 2017

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs' Anthony Rizzo wins 2017 Roberto Clemente Award http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/21186825/anthony-rizzo-chicago-cubs-wins-2017-roberto-clemente-award

NBC Sports Chicago, When Dave Martinez heads to Nationals, Cubs staff will be shaken up once again http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/when-dave-martinez-heads-nationals-cubs-staff-will-be-shaken-once-again

NBC Sports Chicago, Will David Ross become next Cubs bench coach? http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/will-david-ross-become-next-cubs-bench-coach

NBC Sports Chicago, Anthony Rizzo keeps building impressive legacy with Roberto Clemente Award http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/anthony-rizzo-keeps-building-impressive-legacy-roberto-clemente-award

NBC Sports Chicago, How Theo Epstein sees Chili Davis making a difference for Cubs http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/how-theo-epstein-sees-chili-davis-making-difference-cubs

Chicago Tribune, David Ross says 'hard to see' him replacing Dave Martinez as Cubs bench coach http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-suffer-dave-martinez-20171029-story.html#nt=oft03a-1la1

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Adbert Alzolay leads prospects in Arizona Fall League http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-adbert-alzolay-cubs-arizona-fall-league-20171030-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Anthony Rizzo wins Roberto Clemente Award for his charitable work http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-anthony-rizzo-roberto-clemente-award-20171028-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo ’emotional’ over winning Roberto Clemente Award https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-anthony-rizzo-emotional-over-winning-roberto-clemente-award/

Chicago Sun-Times, MORRISSEY: Sugary Joe Maddon goes from praising coaches to axing them https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/morrissey-sugary-joe-maddon-goes-from-lauding-coaches-to-axing-them/

Cubs.com, Rizzo humbled by Clemente Award honor http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/259882810/cubs-anthony-rizzo-earns-clemente-award/

Cubs.com, Rizzo enjoys time with kids at Play Ball event http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/259955148/anthony-rizzo-enjoys-time-at-play-ball-event/

Cubs.com, Cubs in position to make splashy move http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/259816146/cubs-may-be-open-to-trading-big-name-players/

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ESPNChicago.com Cubs' Anthony Rizzo wins 2017 Roberto Clemente Award By Jesse Rogers Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo was honored before Game 3 of the World Series on Friday as the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award. The award is given out annually to the player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. It's the award that Rizzo really wanted, he said, because winning it means he's helping to change lives. "When I found out, it was really emotional for everyone involved in the foundation and my life," Rizzo said. "Baseball is my passion. I love playing baseball. I want to be the best I can be, but to be able to reach out and reach so many different people on a different level, I never overlook it." Rizzo, 28, was a five-time nominee for the award before taking home the honors this season. His Rizzo Family Foundation has raised $4 million over the years helping families of cancer patients. Rizzo is a cancer survivor himself. "Going to hospitals keeps me motivated," Rizzo said. "You see the looks on the kids' faces. It's a couple seconds away from reality from what they're going through when I go in there." Rizzo hosts several fundraisers a year both in season and during the winter, and he often visits hospitals all over Chicago. On the Cubs' last trip to Pittsburgh, earlier this year, he visited the Clemente museum on the same day he was named a nominee for the award. "He set the bar for all athletes, especially baseball players," Rizzo said of Clemente, adding that he believes Clemente's No. 21 should be retired throughout the league. Earlier this year, Rizzo's foundation made a $3.5 million endowment to Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago. Now he'll be recognized for his work in the community, receiving what commissioner Rob Manfred calls the game's "most prestigious award." "To be able to be part of this type of award is something I can't even imagine," Rizzo said. "That's the impact we want to make. We want to impact families directly. That's the staple of this foundation. To help families directly." -- NBC Sports Chicago When Dave Martinez heads to Nationals, Cubs staff will be shaken up once again By Patrick Mooney The Washington Nationals are zeroing in on Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez as their next manager, and that will mean even more changes to Joe Maddon's staff in an offseason already full of surprises. Martinez interviewed in Washington late last week and had been viewed as an early frontrunner for a job that comes with World Series-or-else expectations. Jon Heyman of MLB Network and FanRag Sports first reported Sunday morning that the Nationals are expected to announce the Martinez hire once the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros finish this year's World Series, ending Major League Baseball's news blackout. In becoming a first-time manager during Bryce Harper's last season before becoming a free agent, Martinez brings 10 years of experience as Maddon's bench coach with the Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays, the credibility from a long

playing career in the big leagues and a fluency in Spanish as well as all the analytics that now run the modern game. Martinez will need all of that and more in replacing Dusty Baker, who won back-to-back division titles during his two seasons in Washington and still got fired after the Cubs beat the Nationals in a one-run elimination game in the divisional round of the playoffs. (It's worth noting that Baker only got that job once negotiations collapsed with Bud Black, a sign of some of Washington's internal drama.) The Cubs are hoping the changes will help reenergize the team and refocus Maddon, who will already be working with different pitching (Jim Hickey), hitting (Chili Davis) and third base (Brian Butterfield) coaches in 2018. -- NBC Sports Chicago Will David Ross become next Cubs bench coach? By Patrick Mooney David Ross didn’t exactly ride off into the sunset once Cubs teammates Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward picked him up onto their shoulders and carried him off the field after last year’s World Series Game 7 in Cleveland. Ross “retired” and spent the last year performing on “Dancing with the Stars,” writing a memoir that’s already in movie development, appearing on multiple ESPN platforms and working as a special assistant in Theo Epstein’s front office. Meaning it won’t be easy for the Cubs to pull Ross back in after Sunday’s news that Dave Martinez will be the next Washington Nationals manager. Two sources familiar with Grandpa Rossy’s situation and the team’s thinking framed it like this: Ross would be on the short list of ideal candidates to become Joe Maddon’s bench coach, but it’s also doubtful that the timing will be right for someone who is raising a young family in Florida and has so many off-the-field interests. After getting so little time off this year, Ross is said to be waiting until after the World Series is over before even considering anything else for next season. One internal candidate could be Brandon Hyde, the first base coach for the last three seasons and a bench coach for Rick Renteria (2014) and with the Florida Marlins (2010-11). Ross is only 40 years old and can pretty much write his own job description, whether it’s eventually taking the leap as a big-league manager, focusing on broadcasting or pursuing more crossover opportunities in the sports/entertainment worlds. Ross already has built-in relationships in the clubhouse from his time as Jon Lester’s personal catcher and another kind of big brother to Rizzo. Heyward had been so appreciative of the way Ross looked after him when he came up with the Atlanta Braves that he said thanks by paying for a hotel suite upgrade on the road all last season. But in terms of new voices and different messages, Maddon and his players will already be working with high-profile new coaches Jim Hickey (pitching) and Chili Davis (hitting) and well-regarded third base coach Brian Butterfield. -- NBC Sports Chicago Anthony Rizzo keeps building impressive legacy with Roberto Clemente Award By Patrick Mooney The same competitive nature and unique leadership qualities that made Anthony Rizzo a World Series champion drove the Cubs first baseman toward winning the Roberto Clemente Award.

Rizzo does so much publicly with this stage, and quietly behind the scenes, that it felt like a matter of time, a face of the franchise getting Major League Baseball’s prestigious award that recognizes sportsmanship, community involvement and positive contributions on and off the field. The formal presentation happened Friday at Minute Maid Park, before a World Series Game 3 between the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers that Rizzo would obviously rather be playing in now. But this is a well-deserved honor for someone who is remarkably comfortable around sick children, with sharing his experience as a cancer survivor and the idea of building a legacy in Chicago and South Florida. “This is amazing,” Rizzo said. “It’s the greatest award you can win, and I will be forever appreciative of this. This will go front and center (with) anything I’ve ever done on the baseball field.” The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation has raised more than $4 million since its inception in 2012. This year, the foundation made a $3.5 million commitment to Lurie Children’s Hospital, the downtown Chicago facility where Rizzo makes regular appearances, with or without the cameras. Rizzo also recently granted $250,000 to the University of Miami Health System and the hometown cancer center where he received treatment while battling Hodgkin's lymphoma. Those physical, mental and emotional tests as a Boston Red Sox prospect shaped the superstar he would become years later in Chicago. “It means a lot to me when I go into a hospital room and say hello to a kid and they light up like a Christmas tree for five minutes,” Rizzo said, “escaping the reality, because they’re going through treatment. They’re battling for their lives, and I’m just grateful to be able to go in there and say hello to them and make them escape reality for a second. “It’s not easy to go and see a lot of kids, but we really enjoy it. And the work that we do, hopefully we’re just scratching the surface.” Clemente, a Hall of Fame outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, died on New Year's Eve 1972 during a relief mission to earthquake-damaged Nicaragua, when a plane delivering relief supplies exploded shortly after takeoff and crashed in the Atlantic Ocean. Rizzo made a side trip to The Clemente Museum while the Cubs played in Pittsburgh this season. Previous Clemente Award winners within the last 10 years include Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Clayton Kershaw, Carlos Beltran, Paul Konerko and Curtis Granderson. “Don't get me wrong, I want to be known as a great baseball player when it's all said and done,” Rizzo said, “but I also want to be known as someone who was fortunate to have a big platform and do things with it in a good way." -- NBC Sports Chicago How Theo Epstein sees Chili Davis making a difference for Cubs By Patrick Mooney The Cubs can’t send Chili Davis out to face Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw, but team president Theo Epstein believes his presence will help the franchise’s young hitters next October. Those pronounced playoff struggles against the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers — on top of the way the New York Mets power pitchers overwhelmed the Cubs during that 2015 National League Championship Series sweep — led to a major shakeup of Joe Maddon’s coaching staff. Firing hitting coach John Mallee isn’t really about what he didn’t do, because he worked nonstop across the last three years, overseeing an offense that actually scored more runs this season than the 2016 World Series team.

It’s more the instant credibility that Davis brings as a switch-hitter who made three All-Star teams and earned World Series rings with the 1991 Minnesota Twins and the last New York Yankees dynasty (1998-99). Epstein initially brought Davis into the Boston Red Sox organization, hiring him as an overqualified hitting coach for Triple-A Pawtucket in 2011, the last season before sweeping changes would hit Fenway Park. Davis spent the next six years as the big-league hitting coach for the Oakland A’s and Red Sox, working with players like Josh Donaldson, Yoenis Cespedes, Josh Reddick, Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi. “Chili’s well-established as one of the very best hitting coaches in the game,” Epstein said after Thursday’s staff announcements. “His philosophy and approach happened to fit with what we hope will be the next step for many of our hitters. We talked after the season about hoping to get better with situational hitting, with our two-strike approach, with using the whole field, with having competitive, team-based at-bats. “That happens to be Chili’s core philosophy — hitting line drives to the middle of the field. Your line drives will turn into home runs. He’s excellent at teaching a two-strike approach and teaching situational hitting. He’s really good at helping to get hitters to understand when an elite pitcher’s on his game, you have to sometimes take what he gives you, and have an adjustable swing, an adjustable approach for those situations. “He’s got the gravitas of a 19-year career, 350 homers, over 1,300 RBIs. That combined with his excellent manner and ability to communicate with players makes him a really impactful figure.” Mallee — who grew up as the son of a Chicago cop and graduated from Mount Carmel High School — brought stability to a position that used to have the job security of the drummer for Spinal Tap. The Cubs wanted Mallee’s data-driven approach and the ability to explain heat maps and cold zones and how pitchers would attack each at-bat. Mallee also gave the Cubs a very accurate scouting report on Dexter Fowler before making that January 2015 trade with the Houston Astros. During Mallee’s tenure, Kris Bryant became the fourth player in major-league history to be named MVP the season after winning Rookie of the Year honors. Ian Happ kept making enough adjustments to hit 24 home runs during his rookie season (with only 26 games of experience at Triple-A Iowa). Javier Baez made great strides this year — 23 homers, 75 RBI, .796 OPS — before an 0-for-20 tailspin to start the playoffs. In one way, the Cubs even endorsed Mallee’s methods by promoting minor-league hitting coordinator Andy Haines to work with Davis as the assistant hitting coach. Mallee and Haines have a Miami connection after working in the Marlins organization. “I would like to thank the Chicago Cubs for the amazing opportunity to be part of a great tradition and organization for the last three years,” Mallee wrote in a statement. “I left a great Houston Astros organization to be closer to home with my family and to help my hometown team win a World Series. “We did that. I have no regrets and stand by my work. I wish nothing but the best for the Cubs organization and all the amazing people I met along the way, especially my hitters. See you from across the field.” When the Cubs talk up their culture and the first-class organization they’ve built, there’s also an unspoken, underlying coldness to it all, even while making justifiable decisions. The Cubs publicly hailed Ricky Renteria basically up to the moment Maddon opted out of his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays and someone better came along. Whether or not that will always be sustainable, Davis does have a great resume, no doubt. The Cubs are hoping Davis can help salvage the $184 million investment in Jason Heyward and rewire an offense that ranked last in batting average (.168) and on-base percentage (.240) among the 10-team playoff field. Outside of that unforgettable 9-8 thriller at Nationals Park, the Cubs scored 16 runs in nine postseason games.

“John Mallee is an outstanding hitting coach and we would not be in the position we’re in now with rings on our finger without him,” Epstein said. “Chili just happens to be, in our opinion, uniquely qualified for this group, at this moment in time, to help us get to the next level.” -- Chicago Tribune David Ross says 'hard to see' him replacing Dave Martinez as Cubs bench coach By Mark Gonzales The departure of bench coach Dave Martinez to become the Nationals' manager presents some intriguing in-house options for manager Joe Maddon and the Cubs. The marquee choice would be former catcher David Ross, who is one year removed from his playing days that concluded with a World Series title with the Cubs. During his two seasons as a backup catcher with the Cubs, Ross played under Maddon and became familiar with his strategies. Ross also wasn't afraid to express his thoughts to a disgruntled player or a teammate not following orders. But it seems doubtful that Ross, 40, would return to a major-league lifestyle with longer hours as a coach. One of the reasons Ross retired after 15 seasons was to spend more time with his wife and three children in Florida. "Hard to see me jumping back in," Ross wrote in a text message Sunday. "Was a little busy this year and never got real time off." Ross dabbled in various duties since retiring, from performing on "Dancing with the Stars" to serving as a baseball analyst for ESPN and as a special assistant with the Cubs. Ross' expertise is catching, but for now the Cubs have a solid catching coach in Mike Borzello. The Cubs also have a capable replacement for Martinez in first-base coach Brandon Hyde. Hyde, 44, served as bench coach for Edwin Rodriguez and Jack McKeon with the Marlins in 2010-11 and with the Cubs under Rick Renteria in 2014. Maddon brought Martinez with him from the Rays prior to the 2015 season and shifted Hyde to first-base coach. McKeon thought Hyde would succeed him after the 2011 season, but the Marlins opted for Ozzie Guillen. "(Hyde) was very well-prepared, very aggressive," McKeon told the Tribune in 2013. "He wasn't afraid to jump on somebody if they needed to be jumped on, which a lot of coaches don't want to do. "But he was on top of the game. He was always keeping me sharp on what you want to do, in situations he was always ready for advice. He was ahead of the game." If Hyde moves to the bench, a potential replacement at first base is Doug Dascenzo, the Cubs' minor-league outfield and base-running coordinator who was an outfielder for the team from 1988-92. Dascenzo, 53, was hired as first-base coach in the 2014-15 offseason before Maddon arrived and Hyde reassigned from bench coach to first base. Martinez is the second defection from Maddon's staff. Assistant hitting coach Eric Hinske left to become the Angels' hitting coach. --

Chicago Tribune Cubs' Adbert Alzolay leads prospects in Arizona Fall League By Mark Gonzales A wise scout observed a few years ago that it was best to evaluate players in the Arizona Fall League midway through the six-week season. The scout's reasoning was that players start to show more fatigue at this time, considering that they reported to spring training in March and often begin to mentally and physically wear down. With three weeks left in the AFL season, there's plenty to assess as several scouts and a few executives trying to decide who is worthy of protecting on their 40-man rosters and whom they may be willing to trade. A few evaluators concurred with the scout's thoughts, which could impact several teams — including the Cubs — entering the second half of the AFL season. The Cubs must be encouraged with the performance of pitching prospect Adbert Alzolay, who was added to the Mesa roster to replace talented but injury-prone Oscar De La Cruz. Alzolay, 22, has posted an 0.90 ERA in five relief appearances. Alzolay, a native of Venezuela, has struck out 11 while allowing only three hits and three walks in 10 innings. Alzolay is a lock to be added to the 40-man roster, which must be set by Nov. 20. Second baseman David Bote is fourth in the AFL with a .391 batting average (18-for-46). Bote is second with four home runs and has driven in 10 runs. Bote, 24, batted .272 with 14 home runs for Double-A Tennessee last summer and would be exposed to the Rule 5 draft on Dec. 14 if he's not added to the 40-man roster. But the Cubs have a glut of infielders ahead of him who can play second base. Catcher Ian Rice has split time with two other catchers bur is batting .333 (9-for-27) with four doubles and a .455 on-base percentage for Mesa. Rice, 24, was a 29th round pick out of Houston in the 2015 draft. -- Chicago Tribune Anthony Rizzo wins Roberto Clemente Award for his charitable work By Paul Sullivan Anthony Rizzo’s charitable contributions and involvement with pediatric cancer patients earned him baseball’s coveted Roberto Clemente Award for 2017. The award, named after the Pirates’ Hall of Fame outfielder, is presented annually to the Major League Baseball player who best represents the game through “extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions” on and off the field. A survivor of Hodgkin lymphoma early in his professional career, Rizzo, 28, created the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation to support children battling cancer, soothe their families and fund cancer research. He received the award Friday night at Minute Maid Park before Game 3 of the Dodgers-Astros World Series. “Obviously with what Roberto did, he kind of set the bar for all athletes, especially baseball players, in all of his charitable work, everything he did giving back,” Rizzo said. “To be a part of this award and (included among) all the past winners, it’s insane to see where our foundation has come from and so humbled to be part of this.”

Rizzo is the third Cubs player to receive the award, following Rick Sutcliffe in 1987 and Sammy Sosa in 1998, and the first from Chicago since White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko was a co-winner in 2014. Rizzo thanked Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts for “setting the tone” for players to get involved in charitable endeavors. Rizzo’s foundation committed more than $4 million in 2017 alone to establish the Hope 44 program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and he has been a fixture there over the last five years visiting children battling the disease. Rizzo is also involved with cancer centers at the University of Miami Health System and the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., as well as with Gilda’s Club Chicago. At Lurie Children’s, Rizzo frequently visits the children in the infusion center where they receive chemotherapy. Allison Parise, a registered nurse in the oncology unit, said Rizzo’s visits are important for young patients as they go through treatments. “Truly what Anthony gives to these kids is inspiration,” Parise said. “Inspiration knowing that he was in their shoes, literally, not that many years ago, and how he and his family got through it. He was able to overcome it and survive, and now he’s a professional baseball player thriving in his career and in his life. “And he’s really a real guy. He comes in here and he gets down with the youngest of kids. He holds the little kids, shakes hands and has heartfelt conversations with the older teenagers. Some of my patients who play baseball, they can relate to him, and some are the same age he was when he went through his treatment.” Rizzo remembers how he felt in 2008 when he was diagnosed with cancer while playing for low Class A Greenville in the Red Sox system. He knows what it means to stay positive for your family and said going to visit kids battling cancer helps keep him motivated. “You see the looks on the kids’ faces, and the families, and it’s a couple of seconds away from the reality of what they’re going through when I go in there and just help them out,” he said. “I keep doing it because I just remember when I was sick and seeing my parents suffer way more than I did. I just saw the looks on their faces, and I always wanted to make sure (they knew) I was OK. “So when I go see these kids, I try to tell them all the time, ‘Be strong with your family,’ and then talk to the parents. A couple of minutes away from reality is just insane.” Recently a young girl named Mia, whom he had gotten to know at Lurie Children’s, died. Rizzo posted photos of them together on social media, calling her a “warrior.” “You have lives you’re saving and really helping, and when you lose some, it’s not easy to deal with,” he said of Mia. Parise said Rizzo’s involvement with Mia and her family was something that wouldn’t be forgotten. “She was a well-loved little girl from a well-loved family, and he touched their life as I know she touched his life,” Parise said. “What he did to make her laugh, the fun little things he’s done with her family, they now have as a treasured memory. “When you’re grieving, we all have to hold on to our memories to comfort us, and I think that’s what he’s brought to these families.” During a trip to Pittsburgh in September, Rizzo went to the Clemente Museum and said he was “blown away” learning about the humanitarian efforts of the Pirates great. Vera Clemente, Roberto’s widow, said Rizzo’s story as a cancer survivor has an impact on children battling the disease, adding Rizzo and Roberto were kindred spirits.

“Roberto loved putting smiles on the faces of every child he met,” she said. “And what Anthony continues to do is very much in the same spirit.” Rizzo doesn’t just walk the walk; he’s fully committed to the fight against cancer. He wants the kids to feel he’s a friend, not just a famous athlete. “For Anthony to give back, he doesn’t have to do this, but he chooses to do this,” Parise said. “And he’s not just giving his money, he’s giving his time. He comes without (the media attention) and has gotten to know a lot of the kids pretty well. “He’ll celebrate when good things happen and also grieve when something unfortunate happens, and that’s the reality of cancer.” During his early days with the Cubs, Rizzo kept an autographed photo of Ernie Banks and him inside his locker. Banks signed the photo with the words “Dream big.” Now Rizzo’s catchphrase to the children and families he meets is: “Stay strong and dream big.” Rizzo understands his status as a professional athlete comes with an unwritten responsibility to use that celebrity to help others in need. Baseball is his career, not his life. Influencing the lives of children is as important to Rizzo as anything else he accomplishes in his career, which already includes a championship ring, a Gold Glove award, a Silver Slugger award and three All-Star Game appearances. “Baseball is my passion,” he said. “I love playing baseball. I want to be the best I can be. But to be able to reach out and help so many more people on a different level is something I’d never overlook. “Baseball awards are amazing. I work my tail off to be the best, but to be able to be a part of this type of award is something I can’t even imagine.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo ’emotional’ over winning Roberto Clemente Award By Gordon Wittenmyer Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has no All-Star appearance and will have no World Series parade to show for his 2017 season. But Rizzo takes home what he considers one of the biggest honors of his career — honored Friday as baseball’s 2017 Roberto Clemente Award winner for his year-round work with pediatric cancer patients and fundraising for cancer research and family support. “It’s insane over the past few years how many people tell me we helped someone out, and it makes me so happy,” said Rizzo, a cancer survivor who in 2008 as a Red Sox minor leaguer was diagnosed with Limited Stage Classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Rizzo, 28, regularly visits hospitals, befriending pediatric patients and their families, and offering support and sharing his experiences – along with the occasional autographed photo, ball or jersey. “To touch lives like that, it’s something you can’t really explain,” said Rizzo, who does much of his work through the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. Rizzo tweeted about the loss this week of one of those young patients, a little girl named Mia. “You will be missed but never forgotten,” he wrote in the tweet.

“Mia has been there since the beginning,” he said. “Every time I saw her she was a breath of fresh air. Last time I saw her, she was at Wrigley. she wasn’t looking too good. But I saw her smile. “Going through this over the past six years, there’s been a lot of good times, but when you lose kids that are the base of the foundation, it’s not easy.” Originally called the Commissioner’s Award in its inaugural 1971 presentation, the name was changed in 1973 in honor of Pirates Hall of Famer Clemente after he was killed in a plane crash the previous New Year’s Eve attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. The award goes to the player who, “best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.” Fans and media vote from a list that includes one nominee from each of the 30 teams. Rizzo donated $3.5 million from his foundation to Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago in August. “When I found out, it was really emotional for everyone involved in the foundation and my life and my team,” Rizzo said of the award. “Roberto set the bar for all athletes, especially baseball players. Everything he got he gave back.” Rizzo has been the Cubs’ nominee all five of his full seasons with the Cubs. “Baseball is my passion, but to be able to reach out on a different level than that is something that I’ll never overlook,” said Rizzo, a three-time All-Star, who has four consecutive 30-homer seasons. “Baseball awards are amazing, but to be able to be a part of this type of award is something else.” Willie Mays was the award’s first recipient in 1971. Recent winners include Chicago native Curtis Granderson last year and Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen in 2015. The White Sox’ Paul Konerko was a co-winner in 2014. -- Chicago Sun-Times MORRISSEY: Sugary Joe Maddon goes from praising coaches to axing them By Rick Morrissey An annual tradition in the NHL is the Admitting of Injuries, in which players, having spent the season mum about their physical challenges, acknowledge after the final game that they had been dealing with all sorts of trauma. ‘‘I’ve had two broken ribs and a punctured lung since December.’’ ‘‘I have no feeling in my left arm. Also, malaria.’’ ‘‘What were legs in January are now prostheses.’’ What Cubs manager Joe Maddon has done with his coaching staff in the last week is a little like that, only in a weird way and without the tight-lipped nobility. Maddon spent the season speaking glowingly about everything and everyone — players, coaches, management and ownership. If you had asked him about the bathrooms at Wrigley Field, he would have offered a soaring ode to troughs, along with a brief appreciation of urinal cakes.

Then the season ended, and what had been happy, happy, happy was revealed, through his firing of three coaches, as something that didn’t quite match up with Maddon’s flowery praise. Hockey players hide injuries so opponents won’t try to take advantage of their infirmities. Maddon shovels praise over any simmering dissatisfaction he has because . . . because . . . well, I don’t know why he does that. When he dismissed those coaches, it was jarring. If everybody is great in Joe’s world, how could he fire people? If the world he has constructed is one of peace, love and understanding, how is it that pitching coach Chris Bosio, hitting coach John Mallee and third-base coach Gary Jones were let go? And the most important question of all: How does any coach or player know where he stands with Maddon? Here’s what he said Thursday about new hitting coach Chili Davis and new third-base coach Brian Butterfield: ‘‘These guys are fabulous. They’re force multipliers.’’ Force multipliers? Good lord. From which business-leadership webinar did Maddon pull that nonsense? It’s the kind of too-hip, over-the-top treatment he has given to everyone from his backup third baseman to his Starbucks barista. If a person is spectacular and fabulous and a multiplying force, it’s hard to understand why he’s suddenly not. During the Cubs’ National League Championship Series against the Dodgers, a reporter asked Maddon if he expected all of his coaches to be back in 2018. Maddon praised them and said yes. ‘‘That was a really awkward question,’’ Maddon said after the coaching changes were announced Thursday. ‘‘We’re in the playoffs, and I thought that was the only way I could respond.’’ Everyone got that? The problem wasn’t the answer; it was the question. What Maddon said during the NLCS went beyond not telling the truth, and it went beyond keeping up appearances. It moved into the realm of the bizarre. It’s one thing not to criticize a group of people; it’s another to gush about them and then fire them. There’s something almost pathological about that, especially when those coaches hear the praise and think they’re coming back. All Maddon had to say was: ‘‘We’re worried about the Dodgers right now. We don’t even think about anything like that until after the season.’’ Perhaps a few eyebrows would have been raised, but who cares? And if the firings weren’t Maddon’s idea, if they were strongly suggested by president Theo Epstein, then Maddon needs to say so and spare everyone the confusion. I’m not asking him to criticize players or coaches in real time. I’m asking him to stop slathering it on so thick. He’s the top used-car salesman among big-league managers. You can’t describe a coach as ‘‘outstanding’’ after firing him, as Maddon did with Mallee. It’s unseemly. There are a lot of in-between words he could have come up with to describe the man he had just axed. If Mallee were outstanding — or at least the standard definition of ‘‘outstanding’’ — he’d still be the Cubs’ hitting coach. Likewise, you can’t laud catcher Miguel Montero for being a leader, for having the bearing of a wise man, then designate him for assignment because he had the nerve to publicly criticize one of the Cubs’ sacred cows, Jake Arrieta. But that’s exactly what happened in June, adding more mixed signals to a pile of them. When Maddon’s team was down 3-0 in the NLCS, he said he didn’t want anyone to lose sight of the fact that the Cubs had made it to that round three years in a row, no small accomplishment. Always lift up — that’s Joe’s modus operandi. Fine, but it’s a long way down for everyone when he has to cut a player or fire a coach.

Three years into Maddon’s stay in Chicago, it’s well past time for him to start offering context. Not everything is great. Not everyone is terrific. Most people understand that. Most people can handle the truth. If you can’t say something not-so-nice once in a while, Joe, don’t say anything at all. -- Cubs.com Rizzo humbled by Clemente Award honor By Carrie Muskat Anthony Rizzo never forgot how difficult it was for his parents to deal with the news that their son had cancer, and that sparked the Cubs first baseman's efforts to help other families cope with the horrible disease. In 2012, he created the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, and on Friday, Rizzo received baseball's top humanitarian honor when he was named the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award. "To win this is amazing," Rizzo said. "That's the impact we want to make. A lot of organizations do amazing work, and we want to impact families directly. And this foundation, that's what the staple is. "It's insane over the last few years how many people have come up to me and said how we've helped someone's friend of a friend of a friend, and it gets back to me. To touch lives like that, it's something you can't explain." Rizzo, who was among 30 individual club nominees, was named as the winner in a ceremony before Houston's 5-3 victory in Game 3 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park. Presenting him the trophy were Commissioner Rob Manfred and Vera Clemente, the wife of the late Hall of Famer and Puerto Rican humanitarian. In the audience were Rizzo's fiancee, Emily, and both of their families, plus members of the Cubs' front office, including Jed Hoyer, the club's executive vice president and general manager. The award goes to the player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field. "When we think about our season-long awards, the Roberto Clemente Award is really the most prestigious, because it combines recognition for what the player has done on the field with his work in the community," Manfred said. "It is fitting that this award is named for Roberto Clemente, and I would like to thank Vera, who is here with us today, for continuing to work with us in selecting the winner of the award each year, and for all the great work she does in the community continuing the legacy of her great husband." In 2008, Rizzo was a Minor League player in the Red Sox organization when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Through treatment, he beat the disease, and he has devoted endless hours to the foundation to help others, hosting a walk-a-thon in his hometown of Parkland, Fla., and fund-raising events in Chicago, such as a "Cook-Off for Cancer" and "Laugh-Off for Cancer." Rizzo said during the ceremony that he wanted to try to speak "without breaking down here." He said he remembered telling his mother back then that he was "fine" and not to worry about him. On Aug. 29, the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation made a $3.5 million donation to Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, and in September, it pledged another $650,000 to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Health System. The latter funds will be used to create the Hope 44 program to assist families by providing one-on-one counseling and other support to ensure families have the resources they need to care for a child with cancer. The Rizzo Foundation established a Hope 44 program at Lurie's as well. In case you didn't know, Rizzo wears No. 44.

"Baseball is my passion, I love playing baseball and I want to be the best I can be," Rizzo said. "To be able to reach out and help so many more people on a different level is something I never overlook. Baseball awards are amazing, I work my tail off to be the best I can be, but to be a part of this type of award, I can't even imagine that." Rizzo, 28, said it was an emotional moment when he was told that he had won the Clemente Award. "[Clemente] set the bar for all athletes -- especially baseball players -- with all of his charitable work and giving back," Rizzo said. Manfred praised Rizzo during the ceremony for "his tireless work on behalf of children with cancer. I think probably everyone in this room knows that Anthony is a survivor, himself. Through the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, there has been great work done. They support children's cancer centers both in Florida and in Chicago. They have supported oncology life specialists to help young children deal with the aspects of the disease that are beyond the medical and sponsored camps that children with cancer can go to to have a normal summer kind of experience." During the Cubs' trip to Pittsburgh in early September, Rizzo visited the Clemente Museum. "To be a part of this award and all the past winners, it's insane to see where our foundation has come from, and so humbling to be a part of it," he said. It's also been heartbreaking. On Wednesday, one of the patients Rizzo met when he first started the foundation, Mia, passed away. Rizzo tweeted photos of himself and the girl, saying: "Heartbroken. We lost an incredible girl this morning. Mia you were a warrior until the end. You will be missed but never forgotten." The Rizzo family became close with Mia and her family. "Every time I saw her, she was a breath of fresh air," Rizzo said. "The last time I saw her was at Wrigley [Field], and she wasn't looking too good, she was in a wheelchair. But I remember her smiling at me. Losing her is tough, because she was close to the foundation. "Going through this now for five, six years and visiting kids, there's been a lot of positives that we do and help with the families. But when you lose kids who become close to the foundation and are basically a staple of the foundation, it's not easy," Rizzo said. "That's part of doing this. You have lives you're saving, and then you lose some. And when you lose some, it's not easy to deal with." During the season, Rizzo makes monthly visits to Lurie Hospital. Part of Rizzo's donation in August included upgrading the waiting room there, which included one of his Cubs jerseys framed, which he had patients sign. "Going to the hospital really keeps you motivated," Rizzo said. "You see the looks on the kids' faces and the families. It's a couple seconds away from reality of what they're going through. "I keep doing it because I remember when I was sick, and seeing my parents suffer way more than I did. I saw the looks on their faces. I just wanted to make sure they were OK. When I see the kids [at the hospitals], I tell them all the time to be strong for their families." The concept of honoring Major League players for their philanthropic work was created in 1971 as the Commissioner's Award. But it was renamed the Roberto Clemente Award in '73 in honor of the Hall of Famer and 15-time All-Star who died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve in '72 while attempting to deliver supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. Vera Clemente, continuing to carry her husband's torch for decades, said in the ceremony that Rizzo "has served as an inspiration to those children who need him the most. God bless you for your work and continued success on and off the field. Congratulations and welcome to the family." Rizzo received $25,000 for winning the award, and he will donate that money to Puerto Rican hurricane relief efforts in Roberto Clemente's honor.

-- Cubs.com Rizzo enjoys time with kids at Play Ball event By Mark Newman HOUSTON -- Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo threw plastic balls to boys and girls at the plate. He whiffed at balls thrown by Hailey Dawson, the Nevada girl who will throw the ceremonial first pitch for Saturday's Game 4 of the World Series, using her custom-made gold World Series hand. The Play Ball event that took place at the Astros Youth Academy on Saturday morning was a fitting place to be for Rizzo, the day after he received the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award from Major League Baseball. Now in his second day of being actively involved with MLB in this 113th World Series between the Dodgers and Astros, there was definitely a part of Rizzo that missed it. It was just a year ago that he caught the 5-3 assist fired by Kris Bryant in Game 7 in Cleveland, completing a longtime dream for the Cubs. "It was weird being at a baseball game yesterday in a suit," Rizzo said, referring to the Clemente Award ceremony at Minute Maid Park before Game 3. "You know, it's where you want to be. It's the stage you want to be on. All eyes are on the Dodgers and the Astros, and it's fun. It's fun for them and it's where you want to be." Close your eyes and you can still picture Rizzo leaning against David Ross in the Cubs' dugout during that gut-wrenching Game 7 clincher, both looking for something deep inside to eliminate the Indians and pull out a World Series championship. Rizzo was asked what he thinks the Dodgers and Astros are going through now. "It's a roller coaster," he said. "You live and die on every pitch. It's fun, though. These are times that you're going to look back on in 10 years and enjoy them. You've got to enjoy them as much as you can. There's so much outside noise, with the media coverage, and families coming, and getting tickets ready. But once you get in that clubhouse, the guys are all there for the guys. That's the biggest part -- just leaning on each other." Rizzo and the Cubs were knocked out by the Dodgers in five games after making it to their third consecutive National League Championship Series. Having just played deep into October and knowing these teams, what does Rizzo see as a key to the rest of the Fall Classic? "It's going to be who gets the big hit in the big situation, for me," he said. "Both teams have good pitching, good hitters. Whoever gets the big hit in the big spot is going to win it all." One of the most beautiful moments at the Play Ball event was seeing Rizzo interacting with Dawson. The inspirational 7-year-old was born with Poland Syndrome, a birth defect that left her without three fingers on her right hand. She uses a 3-D printed hand constructed by University of Nevada-Las Vegas engineers to throw a baseball, and she wants to throw out a first pitch in every MLB park. She introduced her special World Series hand at the Play Ball event, and Rizzo knelt down and signed it for her while she was wearing it. Rizzo practiced the first pitch with her. She rolled a few pitches his way, and he gave a few swings and misses, leaving her with a bashful smile. It warmed his heart. He spoke with her parents. What advice did Rizzo give Hailey? "Have fun, take a deep breath," he said. "This is really cool for her, I got to play catch with her. What an inspiration. She's not going to let any disability or disease stop her. It's really cool that Major League Baseball is recognizing her and letting her throw out the first pitch." --

Cubs.com Cubs in position to make splashy move By Phil Rogers CHICAGO -- Teams have asked the Cubs about Kyle Schwarber, and pretty much every other young player on their Major League roster. The answer was always the same: Thanks for asking, but no thanks. When it came time to make big moves, Theo Epstein sent Gleyber Torres (among others) to the Yankees, Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease (among others) to the White Sox and Jeimer Candelario and 18-year-old shortstop Isaac Paredes to the Tigers. But this time around, it doesn't appear the Cubs have the Minor League inventory to fill their Major League needs. If teams want Addison Russell or Javier Baez to play short, Schwarber to bang out home runs, Ian Happ to fill a Ben Zobrist role or maybe even the .298-hitting Albert Almora to round out their outfield, this is the offseason to give the Cubs a call. They need two starting pitchers -- preferably one to work near the front of the rotation -- a closer and some of those coveted young relievers with power arms, a history of throwing strikes and minimum scar tissue. And the Cubs know that while they have great resources, they're not adding all that inventory on the free-agent market. "I certainly think we have Major League talent to move in certain areas, if we're able to find the right deal," Epstein said the day after the Dodgers clinched the National League pennant by beating the Cubs in the NL Championship Series. "We also have plenty of prospects left available to trade. Maybe not headline guys, but there are trades to be made without touching our big league team, if we want to. But I think our approach is we're going to pursue all avenues to get better, to make the Major League team better and to make our organization better." Epstein also referred to the need to be "prepared to make some tough choices," and that's a clear change from his stance in the wake of last year's World Series celebration. The message then was the Cubs were not going to trade away from "our young core," and they didn't. But now it sure sounds like Epstein and Co. are prioritizing the starting pitchers who could be available in a trade -- Chris Archer, Michael Fulmer, Marcus Stroman, Aaron Nola and Sean Manaea, to name five -- ahead of the position players who don't provide unique skills on the roster. Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras are untouchable, but maybe nobody else. Depth was a key to the Cubs' 92-win defense of the NL Central in 2017. But it didn't keep them from being outscored 28-8 by the Dodgers in five games, and now Epstein needs to find replacements for Jake Arrieta, Wade Davis and John Lackey (although he could re-sign them, which we'll get to a little lower). At his start-of-the-offseason news conference, Epstein conceded that "sooner or later" you reach a point where you sacrifice depth to fill needs. Do the Cubs need two outstanding shortstops? It's really nice to have but, of course, the answer is no. That's true even if the one not at short (usually Baez) can slide over and be a standout at second base. There are other second basemen on the roster, starting with Zobrist (who surprisingly was just revealed to be an NL Gold Glove Award finalist, ahead of Baez), Happ and Tommy La Stella, and at least two intriguing second basemen in the upper Minors (Chesny Young and David Bote). The time may finally have arrived when Epstein will pull the trigger on a blockbuster deal involving Russell or Baez (who may have more value than Russell at this point) for a starting pitcher and some bullpen pieces. Or maybe sending Happ somewhere he can play every day, which is tough to do when he's on the same roster as Zobrist. As for Schwarber or Almora, well, I don't think Almora is going anywhere and I'll be surprised if Schwarber does. The Cubs loved that Schwarber bounced back to finish with 30 home runs and to hit .253 with an .894 OPS after the All-Star break.

Nobody has forgotten that two-error nightmare of a misplay in the NL Division Series, but the Cubs won that game anyway. If Schwarber's there, left field will be the one spot the Cubs aren't looking for Gold Glove defense. But his value is likely down after hitting .211 with 150 strikeouts. It's debatable if he could headline the kind of trade that Epstein believes he needs to make to augment his activity in free agency. "Honestly, we feel he has the potential to be an all-around hitter on the level of Anthony Rizzo, per se, when he reaches his prime,'' Epstein said. "We feel that's what he could be. He's got certain toughness and leadership qualities that are hard to find and that we don't necessarily have in surplus or abundance running around in this clubhouse or this organization. A certain energy and grit, ability to bring people together. … But the biggest thing is his bat. We think he's the type of offensive player you build around along with a couple of other guys like him.'' Between Arrieta, Davis and Lackey, the Cubs have almost $42 million in roster flexibility. That's enough to have a good shot at re-signing Davis or Arrieta, which would fill one of the two biggest needs. But as Arrieta heads toward his age-32 season, he is looking for a longer contract than the Cubs have been willing to seriously consider. At least one club (the Rangers) is lining up to take a run at him. The picture is less clear with Davis, and I'd guess the Cubs will try to re-sign him if they trust his health. The craziest option on the Cubs' offseason wish list is this: One-stop shopping for starting pitchers, paying heavily for Yu Darvish and persuading Shohei Ohtani to follow him to Chicago. That might be a pipe dream, however, as Darvish likes being on the West Coast and will be the most pursued pitcher on the market if the Dodgers don't re-sign him quickly. Signing Ohtani might be even more difficult. As a 23-year-old ace, Ohtani (controllable for six seasons) is the kind of piece any team would covet, including one with Kyle Hendricks, Jon Lester and Jose Quintana already on the roster. Add in his skills as a potential middle-of-the-order bat and he's a true one-of-a-kind player. The Cubs just might mount the kind of recruiting campaign for Ohtani that helped convince Lester to take a shot in Chicago. It's going to be fascinating to watch Epstein react to the 11-victory drop from 2016 to '17 and the continued rise of the Dodgers. You don't know what he's going to do, but you know how he's going to think. He'll think big, as always. --