April 2, 2015

CSNChicago.com, Jason Hammel says Cubs will deal with Wrigley Field renovations http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/jason-hammel-says-cubs-will-deal-wrigley-field-renovations

CSNChicago.com, Cubs planning to keep Welington Castillo as insurance http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-planning-keep-welington-castillo-insurance

CSNChicago.com, Cubs: Bosio explains why Lester is ready for Opening Night http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-bosio-explains-why-lester-ready-opening-night

Chicago Tribune, Theo Epstein and Larry Lucchino try to stay out of each other's business http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/ct-sullivan-baseball-spt-0402-20150401-story.html

Chicago Tribune, A healthy Starlin Castro believes he can get off to a fast start http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-spring-training-spt-0402-20150401-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Jonathan Herrera making strong push toward Cubs' roster http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-jonathan-herrera-aims-for-cubs-roster-20150401-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Wednesday's recap: Cubs 11, Brewers 7 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-gameday-cubs-spring-training-spt-0402-20150401-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Theo Epstein tempers expectations in magazine article http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-theo-epstein-tempers-expectations-in-magazine-article-20150401-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs pitcher Jon Lester seeks his first hit http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-jon-lester-seeks-first-hit-20150401-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs bullpen the team's 'silent assassins?' http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/490667/cubs-bullpen-teams-silent-assassins

Chicago Sun-Times, Wrigley Field 'looks like Baghdad' but 'excites' Cubs players http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/490404/wrigley-field-looks-like-baghad-exciting-cubs-players

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs will win the World Series this season? Care to bet on that? http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/490114/cubs-will-win-world-series-season-care-bet

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs close to finalizing opening roster after 3 cut from camp Wednesday http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/489502/cubs-close-finalizing-opening-roster-3-cut-camp-wednesday

Chicago Sun-Times, 'Cubs win!' blankets cover of Bloomberg Businessweek http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/488901/cubs-win-blankets-cover-bloomberg-businessweek

Daily Herald, Imrem: Sending Cubs' phenom Bryant to minors a bit of risky business http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150401/sports/150409813/

Daily Herald, Two Cubs among top NL rookie contenders http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150401/sports/150409818/

Cubs.com, Rizzo leads Cubs' power barrage http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/115868952/anthony-rizzo-leads-cubs-power-barrage

Cubs.com, Cubs' new additions can provide needed OBP boost http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/115774610/cubs-new-additions-can-provide-needed-obp-boost

Cubs.com, Maddon's hoagie to be featured at Wrigley Field http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/115872172/joe-maddons-hoagie-to-be-featured-at-wrigley-field

Cubs.com, Talent flowing through entire Cubs pipeline http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/115939590/phil-rogers-talent-flowing-through-entire-cubs-pipeline

Cubs.com, Rosscup, Schlitter and Lake optioned to Triple-A http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/115870008/cubs-send-down-zac-rosscup-brian-schlitter-and-junior-lake

Cubs.com, Hammel excited to see Wrigley renovations http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/115926254/cubs-pitcher-jason-hammel-excited-to-see-wrigley-renovations

Cubs.com, Lester ready for Opening Night http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/115872674/cubs-left-hander-jon-lester-ready-to-go-for-opening-night

Cubs.com, Jackson, Wood vying for final spot in rotation http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/115871330/edwin-jackson-travis-wood-vying-for-final-spot-in-cubs-rotation

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs 15-15-1 in spring, Kris Bryant must watch http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/29537/cubs-15-15-1-in-spring-bryant-must-watch

ESPNChicago.com, Welington Castillo realizing three catchers a reality http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/29532/castillo-realizing-3-catchers-a-reality

ESPNChicago.com, Chicago Cubs cut three; roster now at 32 http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/29522/cubs-cut-3-roster-at-32

-- CSNChicago.com Jason Hammel says Cubs will deal with Wrigley Field renovations By Patrick Mooney

MESA, Ariz. – The Cubs are just about ready to get out of here and head back to the Wrigley Field construction zone. “I’m excited, man,” pitcher Jason Hammel said. “It looks like Baghdad, but still you know there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow there.” That line probably won’t make the next marketing campaign or PowerPoint presentation to season-ticket holders. But Hammel summed up the weird mix of optimism and cynicism around this team. The Cubs closed out their Cactus League schedule on Wednesday with an 11-7 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers at Sloan Park. They finished at 15-15-1 while leading everyone in attendance (222,415), service-time debates and Jumbotron/bleacher updates. “It is what it is for right now,” Hammel said. “We’re going to deal with it. But it’s exciting. It’s something that’s a long time coming and it’s fun to be a part of – even if it is going to be a little sketchy to get around. “It’s a lot of time and effort going into a place that’s pretty sacred ground.” Hammel threw five innings against the Brewers and finished his spring at 3-1 with a 3.24 ERA. The 32-year-old right-hander put up 22 strikeouts against three walks in 25 innings and expects to be a big part of the rotation. As last year’s sign-and-flip guy, Hammel symbolizes the next phase of the rebuild for Theo Epstein’s front office. Packaged with Jeff Samardzija in last summer’s blockbuster trade that yielded top prospect Addison Russell from the Oakland A’s, Hammel made it a priority to come back to Chicago, getting two years and $20 million guaranteed. “The phone call was on the Fourth of July,” Hammel said. “I remember like it was yesterday, because my wife burst into tears. When you tell your pregnant wife that you’re moving across the country, that’s tough. “I told (Theo) my thought process was I was going to pitch (well enough) to make you not trade me. And he said: You did that. But this is the best of both worlds. We went out and we got Addison and added another great ballplayer to the club. “And then he said: I’ll be your first call in free agency. And he made good on that word. I almost knew that I was going to be back here.” The Friendly Confines could look and feel like a different place after the Wrigleyville development gets a $600 million facelift. Hammel, who grew up in the Pacific Northwest, hasn’t picked his walk-up music yet, but he said he will be going grunge and paying tribute to the Seattle sound. It will be a lot easier to deal with the inconveniences if the Cubs are good this summer. “Honestly, I’m a pretty easy-to-please guy,” Hammel said. “As long as I got a big-league uniform, it’s fun for me. (And) being a Cubbie, it’s going to be fun to be able to go back in time later in my life to say I was part of that. “It might be tough right now. But we get to see the bones of it going up and it will be a fun story to tell later.” -- CSNChicago.com Cubs planning to keep Welington Castillo as insurance By Patrick Mooney MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs reported to camp in the middle of February with three established catchers, waiting to see if another team would get desperate or respond to an injury and try to trade for Welington Castillo.

The Cubs are still carrying Castillo, who should be at Wrigley Field for Opening Night on Easter Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs gave Joe Maddon a five-year, $25 million contract for his ability to communicate with young players and create good vibes inside the clubhouse. The manager has already spoken with Castillo about his role backing up Miguel Montero and David Ross. “We think he’s a major-league catcher,” Maddon said Wednesday. “Obviously, it’s going to be more difficult for him to be slotted in like he’d like to be right now. But there’s a lot of opportunity in the latter part of the games, whether it’s pinch-hitting or pinch-running for somebody else (and) beyond that getting in some starts. “Of course, somebody’s going to get injured. It always happens, so be ready. Don’t languish or be upset about the fact that you’re not getting more playing time early.” The Cubs optioned outfielder Junior Lake, right-hander Brian Schlitter and lefty Zac Rosscup to Triple-A Iowa, cutting their spring roster to 32 players. With outfielder Chris Denorfia (hamstring) probably starting the season on the disabled list, there appears to be three position players going for two spots: Outfielders Ryan Sweeney and Matt Szczur and infielder Jonathan Herrera. Sweeney has the guaranteed contract ($1.5 million this season plus a $500,000 buyout for 2016). Szczur looked great this spring, hitting .362 with five homers, and the former NFL prospect would add some youth and speed, but he still has one minor-league option left. The Cubs might also need another backup infielder, and that’s where Herrera could fit into the picture. Another X-factor is outfielder Chris Coghlan, who got scratched from Wednesday’s lineup with a stiff neck, though it’s not expected to be that serious. Combined, Montero and Ross have caught more than 12,000 innings in the big leagues. Both are on the wrong side of 30. The Cubs view Castillo as a good insurance policy behind the plate. “He’s the kind of guy I don’t think we want to lose,” Maddon said. “That’s a premium position. You don’t shake a tree and find a good catcher. We have three good catchers here and that’s a really nice position. When you have what you perceive to be depth, to just trade it away could really hurt you very quickly if you’re not careful.” -- CSNChicago.com Cubs: Bosio explains why Lester is ready for Opening Night By Patrick Mooney MESA, Ariz. — We’re talking about practice. But it convinced Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio that his new $155 million ace can take on the St. Louis Cardinals. “(That) outing told me Jon Lester is ready for Opening Day,” Bosio said Wednesday, replaying a minor-league scrimmage from the day before at the Sloan Park complex. Lester is a perfectionist who didn’t feel like his stuff was particularly sharp on Field 1 against a lineup of prospects that included Albert Almora and Victor Caratini. Those 84 pitches became part of pushing through what the Cubs described as a typical “dead arm.” The All-Star lefty and two-time World Series champion predicted the adrenaline boost would get him through Easter Sunday night at Wrigley Field in front of a national TV audience.

Bosio pointed to the way Lester — who hasn’t pitched in a Cactus League game since March 16 — ended Tuesday’s session in the sixth inning. There was a questionable call — fair or foul — on a ball hit down the left-field line. It got stuck in the fence and Bosio will take it from here. “The next thing you know, the guy is standing on third base,” Bosio recalled. “Jon Lester — as competitive as he is — is like: ‘What the (bleep) is going on?’” Lester was only supposed to face one batter, Bosio said: “He’s waving me off (like): ‘No, no, absolutely not. I’m not finishing that way. I don’t want to finish that way.’” Bosio’s response to Lester: All right, you got one more guy. “And then he breaks, I think, his sixth bat of the game on a really nice pitch inside,” Bosio said. “The guy hits a soft little liner to third base. It’s the same thing: ‘One more guy.’ No, come on, you’ve done enough.” That attitude and intensity helps explains why Lester now has the richest contract in franchise history. “Jon Lester could have went another 20, 25 pitches,” Bosio said. “But what that told me is: This guy is ready for Opening Day. There’s more left in the tank. And as a pitching coach, that’s what you want. You want your guys to fight you and the manager to stay out there. That’s all we want. “That was the perfect indication of what this guy’s about.” -- Chicago Tribune Theo Epstein and Larry Lucchino try to stay out of each other's business By Paul Sullivan FORT MYERS, Fla. — From the recruitment of Theo Epstein to signing Jon Lester to using the Fenway Park blueprint in their Wrigley Field renovation, there's no doubt Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts has a serious case of Boston envy. The next thing you know, they will be serving clam chowder at Wrigley with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck sitting in the owner's seats behind the Cubs' dugout. "There is something flattering about it," Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino said. "If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then we'll take it." The one thing the Red Sox have that the Cubs' owners desperately want is a championship ring — or rings, to be exact. That's Epstein's mission. Epstein, of course, has a couple of rings from his days running the Red Sox and might have stayed in Boston to try to win a few more if not for a famous falling out with Lucchino and fellow Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner. But life throws you curveballs every so often, and now the Cubs are seemingly on the verge of contending with a farm system many experts rate as the best in baseball, while the Red Sox are coming off a last-place finish following their 2013 World Series title. The Red Sox opted to throw cash at the problem for this season, signing free agents Pablo Sandoval, Hanley Ramirez and 19-year-old Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada, while making several other moves to get back in the mix. Lucchino corrected me when I mentioned the offseason "rebuild," a word that's banned in the Red Sox offices. "We're not interested in that slow process (of rebuilding)," he said. "We play for championships. That's what we want people to understand. We have three in 10 years." The Red Sox, Lucchino said, never would do it the Cubs way, throwing away seasons to build a farm system in return for sustained success.

"Part of it is we have an obligation to our fans who support us so fervently and buy so many of our tickets," he said. "And when I say 'go for it,' I mean go for the postseason, though John Henry said so well here the first day of practice — 'We play for championships.' And if that means refocusing after finishing last, then we do it. But we're not trying to finish third." The Red Sox could go from last-to-first again, as they did in 2013. Or they easily could flop if Sandoval's belly gets any bigger and Ramirez's bulked-up body leads to hamstring injuries. "It's an interesting team in the best sense of the word," Lucchino said. "There are question marks with some of the young players, how quickly will they mature and contribute. There are some question marks with some of the new players, how quickly will they adjust and contribute, and some question marks with some of our older, core players. "And always, as with every team, there's a question about pitching. But this is a team with a bunch of stars. You don't need just stars to win. You need good, regular guys — 'Joes' as they used to call them. You need the stars and you need the Joes, and I think we have both. What we can't be sure of is health and good luck." The Red Sox have no real ace, and made an all-out effort to re-sign Lester, whom they dealt to the A's last summer. Instead, Epstein swooped in and reeled Lester in for $155 million. Asked if he regretted the way the Lester situation was handled, Lucchino said: "I haven't thought about it for a while. We wish him, uh, some success in Chicago." He then leaned back in his chair and laughed. "Some?" I asked. "We wish he chose to come back here, but he hasn't," he said. "As (Patriots coach) Bill Belichick would say, 'We only talk about the guys on our team.'" Lucchino also declined to give his thoughts on what Epstein has accomplished in Chicago since his controversial ending in Boston. The two are no longer close, but he said Epstein sent him a "nice note" after a recent motorcycle accident in February. "Very thoughtful of him," Lucchino said. "That's the last contact I have had with him." If Lucchino is happy for Epstein for receiving plaudits on his rebuild on the North Side, he's not about to say so. "What has he done in Chicago? Actually I don't feel any great connection to what he has done in Chicago," he said. "That's up to him and the Cubs. We have enough issues focusing on our own franchise." Epstein didn't care to comment on Lucchino either, having to deal with his own teams' issues in the final week of camp. The former friends are busy minding their own business, and doing things their own way. -- Chicago Tribune A healthy Starlin Castro believes he can get off to a fast start By Mark Gonzales MESA, Ariz. — Starlin Castro achieved a minor accomplishment by not missing significant time as he had the last two spring trainings.

"After last year and the year before that, I feel great," Castro said Wednesday before hitting a sacrifice fly. "I go into the season ready to start hot right away." It was one of the quieter springs for Castro, 25, whose health was overshadowed by the performance of 21-year-old Addison Russell, who was optioned Monday to Triple-A Iowa but could reach the majors by the end of the season. By managing to stay healthy and play in regularly scheduled exhibition games, Castro believes he can start fast. "It's not like playing in B games," said Castro, recalling the last two springs when he had to catch up on at-bats because of hamstring injuries. "I go to the minor leagues and hit every inning, and I don't have my rhythm. That's why the first month I haven't felt right. "But if we start the season right now, I'd start hot right away because I feel good and I'm concentrating. I know my timing. I know the talent I have, and I know I can put it together." This marked the second spring Castro coped with hype involving a younger prospect. Castro rebounded from a slow start to earn his third National League All-Star selection around the same time Javier Baez shifted from shortstop to second base. This spring, Castro worked at short with Russell, who can play second and third base but made a strong impression at shortstop. "I'm here to help," Castro said. "I'm not selfish. If I see you in a (slump), I can help you. That's my point. I take care of my business, too. But if I can help some guys, I'll do it. We're teammates, and the only reason we're here is we want to win. No matter how it goes. We want to win. That's what we have to put in our minds — win. "If you're in the clubhouse and don't talk, it's not going to work. But if you hate that guy, it's maybe the guy who helps you on the field. That's what I'm learning about a lot of guys I talked to on winning teams. I think that has helped me a little bit." Meanwhile, with Junior Lake optioned to Triple-A Iowa and Chris Denorfia likely headed to the 15-day disabled list, outfielders Matt Szczur and Ryan Sweeney and infielder Jonathan Herrera are competing for two spots. Szczur, the Cubs' fastest player who can play the outfield, raised his batting average to .362 with two hits Wednesday. He would seem to have the best shot. Sweeney bats left-handed and will earn $1.5 million, so trading him could be difficult. Herrera, a switch-hitter, is not on the 40-man roster, but the Cubs have flexibility if they want to make room for him. Extra innings: The Cubs optioned relievers Zac Rosscup and Brian Schlitter to Iowa. Maddon spoke with Welington Castillo, who goes from starting catcher a year ago to third string this season. "Somebody can get hurt, so stay ready," Maddon said. "It always happens. Don't languish or be upset over the fact you're not getting playing time early." … Pitcher Jason Hammel has followed the photo of construction at Wrigley Field. "I'm excited. It looks like Baghdad, but you know there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow right now. We're going to deal with it, but it's exciting." … Hammel also looks forward to listening to the walk-up music selections of his teammates. … "Once you actually hear it for the first time what some guys' (selections) are, it's going to be a thumb's up or thumb's down," said Hammel, who intimated he might select a grunge song representing his Seattle-area roots. "We'll let you know if it's bad." … Jake Arrieta will throw in a minor-league game Thursday, the last scheduled day off for the Cubs before the season. … The Cubs set a major league record spring home attendance mark with 222,415 fans. --

Chicago Tribune Jonathan Herrera making strong push toward Cubs' roster By Mark Gonzales MESA, Ariz. -- Arismendy Alcantara has received plenty of notoriety for his versatility, but Jonathan Herrera also is making a strong push to make the Chicago Cubs' opening night roster. Herrera, 30, survived the last round of cuts as a non-roster player. Assuming that outfielder Chris Denorfia starts the regular season on the 15-day disabled list because of a left hamstring strain, the final two spots on the roster will be between outfielders Matt Szczur and Ryan Sweeney and Herrera. Szczur, who is batting .349 with five home runs, would appear to have the strongest shot at landing one spot because he's arguably the fastest player in camp and can play all three outfield positions. Sweeney, 30, has the most experience among the three candidates but has been slowed by injuries throughout his career. He also can play all three outfield positions and bats left-handed. But a major league source said the Cubs have been trying to trade Sweeney, who will earn $1.5 million this season. The Cubs' 40-man roster currently is full, so they would have to make room if Herrera makes the opening night roster. But pitcher Jacob Turner is a candidate for the 60-day DL because of an arm injury, which would open a spot. So would a trade of Sweeney, who didn't start on Wednesday. Alcantara and Herrera are switch-hitters, so that lessens the need for a left-handed hitter even though President Theo Esptein is in the midst of adding more left-handed hitters to the organization since last July. Herrera, who has played at least parts of six seasons with the Colorado Rockies and Boston Red Sox, is primarily a middle infielder. But manager Joe Maddon didn't rule out carrying another infielder besides Alcantara. "It would be nice to have it," Maddon said. You don’t necessarily or absolutely have to have it, but I think we’d like to have it. But the fact that (Alcantara) is so versatile makes a big difference. It comes down to pinch-hitting and what you’re going to do during the course of a game and who you’re going to hit for. All that kind of good stuff, and then you try to figure out where you need the most depth. "Having an extra infielder would be a good thing." -- Chicago Tribune Wednesday's recap: Cubs 11, Brewers 7 By Mark Gonzales The summary Before a crowd of 13,375 that increased Sloan Park home attendance to a major-league spring record 222,415, the Cubs pulled away to an 11-7 victory over the Brewers on Wednesday behind home runs from Tommy La Stella, Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler and Jorge Soler in the first five innings. At the plate The switch-hitting Fowler continues to hit with more authority from the left side, as he pulled a triple down the right-field line before hitting his homer to right-center. Fowler also singled from the right side before Soler's two-run shot in the fifth that wasn't higher than 25 feet.

On the mound Starter Jason Hammel wasn't happy that four of the six hits he allowed occurred with two out, but he was otherwise pleased with his slider. Reliever Justin Grimm failed to retire any of the four batters he faced in the sixth. In the field Versatile Arismendy Alcantara started at third base and handled two grounders flawlessly. Jonathan Herrera entered the game as a defensive replacement and ranged far to his right before throwing across his body to get a force play at second base in the ninth inning. Key number 47 — Cubs home runs this spring. The quote "You just can't rely on the homer. We're going to hit homers, but they're not always going to be there. to beat good pitching, you have to manufacture (runs)." — manager Joe Maddon Up next At Diamondbacks, 8:40 p.m. Friday at Chase Field. RH Edwin Jackson vs. RH Jeremy Hellickson. -- Chicago Tribune Theo Epstein tempers expectations in magazine article By Paul Sullivan Cubs president Theo Epstein compared this year’s team to the Royals of four years ago in a cover story on the organization for Bloomberg Businessweek, downplaying expectations that this finally is “the year.” “There is a broad band of potential outcomes this season,” Epstein told the magazine in comparing the Cubs to the 2011 Royals. “Is it going to take that long for our guys? It very well could. Young players deserve patience.” The article in the business magazine features a jumping Starlin Castro on the cover with the phrase "Cubs Win!" repeated over and over. The story is headlined, “Holy Cow! The Chicago Cubs Finally Have a Winning Business Plan,” and features interviews with Epstein, business president Crane Kenney and other team executives. Kenney told the magazine: “Basically, my job is fill a wheelbarrow with money, take it to Theo’s office, and dump it.” Kenney admits to making a mistake when he authorized "the Noodle," the giant Kraft macaroni noodle display that stood next to the Ernie Banks statue a few years ago. “That was one where I made the call at the end of the day, and I was wrong,” Kenney said. “So my threshold is: ‘Is this a noodle?’” -- Chicago Tribune Cubs pitcher Jon Lester seeks his first hit By Mark Gonzales

MESA, Ariz. -- Jon Lester has a sense of dry sense of humor, and he displayed it when asked about his hitting ability. "They’re hiding me," Lester deadpanned. "Secret weapon." Lester, who has spent nine seasons in the American League with the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics, has yet to get a hit in 36 at-bats. "They're hiding me in the weeds," said Lester, who might be the only Cubs starting pitcher who won't bat eighth. But Lester, who was an exceptional center fielder and pitcher at Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma, Wash., said he's taken more batting practice this spring with the Cubs than he did his entire 8 1/2 seasons with the Red Sox and looks forward to getting his first major league hit. "It’s going to be cool," Lester said. "Like I said before, the hitting part is an added bonus. When you look at my baseball card, it doesn’t have 'hitter' next to it. It has a P. At the end of the day, if I go four innings but get a hit, it’s not a good day. "It’s how I looked at it. Now it’s more important. I’ll have more say in my game. In the American League, it was just don’t get hurt. Maybe four ABs a year and not get hurt." Lester added the transition to spending spring training in Arizona has gone smoothly, with the lack of fishing being the possible exception. "It’s been good for my family," Lester said. "It’s been an easy adjustment. We’ve scoped out some areas for the next couple years that we want to maybe gravitate toward. But it was a seamless transition for us. "It’s never been a hard transition for me. When you break it down, it's baseball. I have to do the same things here that I did where I was before (in Fort Myers, Fla.). That doesn’t change. But I think what people don’t understand is sometimes how hard it can be on your family. That’ can affect you as a baseball player. We’re all human. We’re not robots. We have emotions like everyone else. When you have a kid having a hard time with a move, it’s going to affect you." -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs bullpen the team's 'silent assassins?' By Neil Ramirez MESA, Ariz. –Neil Ramirez doesn’t stand out in a room. Almost any room he’s in. He’s a rare Cub who can walk down any street in Chicago and into almost any establishment without being noticed. “Rizzo and those guys, they probably can’t, obviously, but I think I’ll be all right for now,” the right-hander said. Maybe for now. But maybe not for long if his rookie year is a sign of things to come – his 1.44 ERA ranked fourth in the National League among all pitchers with 40 or more innings. Of course, Ramirez isn’t alone – in success or anonymity – when it comes to a Cubs bullpen that is the clear, on-paper strength of the club entering a season in which that’s expected to actually matter. “The bullpen guys, they keep us down there like we’re in a cage because we’re kind of crazy anyway,” right-hander Justin Grimm said. “We also don’t get as much TV time. It’s a lot of things.” But if no one sees these guys coming, Grimm’s fine with that.

“The silent assassins,” he called them. They include closer Hector Rondon, a former Rule 5 pick and Tommy John surgery survivor, who evolved into the ninth inning role last year – with 18 saves, a 0.62 ERA and just two walks after the All-Star break. Setup man Pedro Strop had a 1.52 ERA in the eighth inning (2.52 in his career). Ramirez and Grimm both made successful transitions from starting roles – with Grimm producing a 3.58 relief ERA after going 6.75 as a starter in his career. “Everybody, man,” Ramirez said. “It was as tight ship down there at the end of the year, man. Were taking that into this year.” All are in their 20s – with Rondon just hitting his prime at 27 and Ramirez the youngest at 25. World Series veterans Jason Motte, a right-hander, and Phil Coke, a lefty were added over the winter. “There’s even or ahead guys, and then there’s the guys who pitch well when you’re behind,” manager Joe Maddon said of reliable relievers and mop-up guys. “You hope to get at least four or five even or ahead guys, and if you have more than that, wonderful. That’s when you’re going well you can maintain those winning streaks because you have quality bullpen guys who are not being abused. “I think we have almost all even or ahead guys.” To understand the importance of that, look only as far back in history as last year’s World Series, where the Kansas City Royals rode a power-armed bullpen of closer-quality pitchers to within one game of a title – despite having a middle-of-the-pack rotation. “I don’t really see myself in a particular role. I see all of us out there with the attitude of just competitors, man,” Ramirez said. “Every one of us wants to be the guy. I’ve heard that Maddon doesn’t really use guys in certain roles, and that’s great because we have so many guys that can do [any role] at any time.” In the cases of Ramirez and Grimm, the kid gloves are off this year after they survived what can sometimes be a tough transition. “I don’t want to have any reins on, man,” Ramirez said. “I’m ready to go. After having a year under my belt now and knowing what the bullpen’s like, I told them whenever they need me – if it’s three days in a row, four days in a row – I can do it.” Not that he – or any of his bullpen buds — will be any more recognizable (except maybe Motte with the Mohawk and long beard). The walkup music all the pen guys get this year as part of the Jumbotron tech updates at the ballpark might help. The only thing that’ll change it for sure, said Ramirez: “If we win the World Series, man, then it’ll be crazy. Everybody’ll be recognized, man.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Wrigley Field 'looks like Baghdad' but 'excites' Cubs players By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. – The photos circulating Wednesday from Wrigley Field created buzz in Arizona, where Cubs players are in the final stages of breaking camp to head to Sunday’s opener.

“It looks like Baghdad,” said right-hander Jason Hammel. “But you know there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow there. “I’m excited, man.” The new system at Wrigley provides walkup music for all the players in addition to video replay (beyond small TVs in seating areas and the concourse) for the first time in the ballpark’s history. But the ballpark remains under construction as the season opens, with no bleachers (scheduled to be fully opened sometime near midseason) and next-phase preparation surrounding the park to continue throughout the season. “It is what it is right now. We’re going to deal with it,” Hammel said. “But it’s exciting. It’s something that’s a long time coming and it’s fun to be a part of, even if it is going to be a little sketchy to get around. “It’s a lot of time and effort going into a place that’s pretty sacred ground. … It’s going to be fun to be able to go back in time later in my life to say I was part of that.” Part of the widespread tolerance among players for the hassles of construction might have something to do with the different tone in camp after the team followed three years of tanking seasons by committing more than $250 million to upgraded personnel in an attempt to compete. “We don’t have bleachers, but it doesn’t matter,” shortstop Starlin Castro said a few days ago. “We feel very good [about] starting the new season, with new people here, and I think it’s going to be really exciting.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs will win the World Series this season? Care to bet on that? By Rick Morrissey I don’t usually deal in hyperbole, but THIS IS THE GREATEST, MOST HILARIOUS STORY EVER! ESPN.com is reporting that more money has been bet on the Cubs to win the World Series this season than on any other team, at least at two of Nevada’s biggest sports books. The Cubs? Winning the World Series? This season? Are you kidding me? Wanna bet? It’s safe to assume that the people throwing money at the Cubs aren’t professional bettors. It’s even safer to assume they are professional Cubs fans, full of hope and their children’s college tuition money. How did we get here? How does one go from five straight fifth-place finishes to such heavenly visions? This isn’t putting your money where your mouth is. This is putting your money where your mental illness is. Whoever in Las Vegas set the odds at 6-1 for the Cubs to win it all is a genius. It plays right into Cubs fans’ wildest dream, a dream that has almost no chance of happening this season. But tell your more ardent follower of this franchise that there is a chance, and he or she slaps down money on the possibility of a Cubs championship parade. Tell him or her the chance is a decent one and watch the disposable income go down the disposal.

“Every year, they bet the Cubs,” Jeff Stoneback, assistant manager at MGM race and sports, told ESPN.com. “I could be their ace and you could be their No. 2 starter, and they’d still bet them.” A real tug of war is going on between the more outwardly sober Cubs fan and the slobbery version who wants to plant wet kisses on president of baseball operations Theo Epstein. One side doesn’t think this is The Year, though it secretly holds out hope that Kris Bryant will hit a game-winning grand slam in Game 7 of the World Series. The other side, men and women alike, wants to carry Epstein’s baby to term. By the way, remember when everyone wanted to be Phil Jackson? He’s getting killed now in New York for overseeing a disaster of a Knicks team. Epstein, meanwhile, has convinced Cubs fans through a combined 86 games under .500 the past three seasons that he sees greatness ahead. It’s all a matter of perspective. Cubs fans are ready to win. They were ready to win 100 years ago. But that doesn’t explain the cannabis cloud of hope that has settled over Wrigley Field and beyond this year. There are reasons to hope, though there are just as many unknowns. There’s Jon Lester and Joe Maddon. But there’s also all that young, unproven talent. The ado seems a little outsized, even for Cubs fans caught up in Opening Day foreplay. Could a championship happen this season? In the way a singing cow could happen. The construction mess that is Wrigley Field might end up serving as a metaphor for the young Cubs: not ready yet. Next year? Who knows? I don’t know what happened to skepticism. Cubs fans were always a hopeful bunch, but deep down they knew better. There was a reason they talked about next year – they were pretty sure this year was going to be like all the other this years that had preceded it. Hope has been replaced by certainty, and it looks odd on Cubs fans. The betting silliness aside, the giddiness about the immediate future feels like a premature touchdown celebration. You’d like to tell the more enthusiastic followers to act like they’ve been there before. Then you realize they haven’t been there before and you give them a pass. I’ve heard Cubs fans dismiss those who bet money on a North Side World Series as “stupid.’’ Well, there’s apparently a lot of stupid out there. ESPN.com reports that the number of bets on the Cubs at one sports book is more than double any other team. That’s not belief. That’s beyond belief. People have said that the end of the world will surely be upon us if the Cubs win a World Series. I remain of the belief that the end of the world will occur with the Cubs one out away from winning their first title since 1908. But that’s just me, a weary soul who has seen too much from this franchise, none of which had anything to do with a World Series championship. Some of you are insistent that the Cubs are going to win it all this year. To which the more clear-eyed among us repeat: Wanna bet? -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs close to finalizing opening roster after 3 cut from camp Wednesday By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. — The Cubs closed in on an Opening Day roster Wednesday by optioning three players to Class AAA Iowa: pitchers Brian Schlitter and Zac Rosscup, and outfielder Junior Lake. That leaves 28 healthy players in camp.

Manager Joe Maddon said the cuts leave three in the mix for the final two bench jobs: outfielders Matt Szczur and Ryan Sweeney, and infielder Jonathan Herrera. Sweeney, who’s in the second year of a two-year deal, has been on the block, but team officials in recent days said they don’t anticipate any trades before breaking camp. Without Herrera, the Cubs would have only one extra infielder in Arismendy Alcantra. “We don’t actually have to have it,” Maddon said of an additional infielder. “But we’d like to have it of course. The fact that [Alcantara’s] so versatile makes a big difference. It comes down to pinch-hitting, what you’re going to do during the course of the game. And then you try to figure where you need the most depth. Having another extra infielder would be a good thing.” One potential factor: Left-fielder Chris Coghlan is out of the lineup with a stiff neck, and he’s day to day. It’s not considered serious, but if that changes in the next day or two, it could open another spot. Maddon said he expects to finalize the roster Friday. The team heads north early Saturday, ahead of Sunday’s opener, with minor leaguers playing the final exhibition game Saturday afternoon against the Diamondbacks. Barring additional injuries or trade, the pitching staff appears set, with only left-hander Drake Britton on the outside looking in as a potential second bullpen lefty. The roster as it stands now (non-rehabbing players listed): Starting rotation (five): LHP Jon Lester, RHP Jake Arrieta, RHP Jason Hammel, RHP Kyle Hendricks, LHP Travis Wood. Bullpen (seven): RHP Hector Rondon, RHP Pedro Strop, RHP Neil Ramirez, RHP Justin Grimm, RHP Jason Motte, LHP Phil Coke, RHP Edwin Jackson. Also: LHP Drake Britton. Catchers (three): Miguel Montero, David Ross, Welington Castillo. Infielders (five/six): Anthony Rizzo, Starlin Castro, Mike Olt, Tommy La Stella, Arismendy Alcantara. Outfielders (four/five): Chris Coghlan, Dexter Fowler, Jorge Soler. Also (for two spots): IF Jonathan Herrera, OF Ryan Sweeney, OF Matt Szczur (and C Taylor Teagarden). -- Chicago Sun-Times 'Cubs win!' blankets cover of Bloomberg Businessweek By David Just The baseball season is still five days away, but Bloomberg Businessweek is already declaring the Cubs winners. “CUBS WIN!” blankets the entire cover of the magazine’s April 3 issue, followed by the subhead “Well, not yet. But after a century of epic mismanagement a sports empire is in bloom.” The issue features a story by Ira Boudway, which is online now, about how the Cubs “finally” have a winning business plan. Boudway spoke to Theo Epstein, Crane Kenney, Carl Rice and Colin Faulkner, who explained how the Cubs are going to boost revenue.

Here’s more about the story: While the Cubs have spent $292 Million on player acquisitions since the end of last season, they have raised ticket prices (about 2 percent) this year for the first time in four seasons. With increases in the gate receipts, sponsorships, and media deals, the team stands to add as much as $100 million in annual revenue, roughly closing the gap with the Red Sox. Crane Kenney told Businessweek “Basically, my job is fill a wheelbarrow with money, take it to Theo’s office, and dump it.” But on sponsorships, he’s learned the hard way. In 2010, Kenney thought the Cubs could get away with a giant Kraft macaroni noodle outside Wrigley. After broad derision, they moved it across the street and then got rid of it. “That was one where I made the call at the end of the day, and I was wrong,” says Kenney. “So my threshold is: Is this a noodle?” Boudway’s story also includes this graphic, showing how the Cubs’ “deliberate” decline affected all aspects of the organization. -- Daily Herald Imrem: Sending Cubs' phenom Bryant to minors a bit of risky business By Mike Imrem Commerce vs. Competition is one of the great rivalries in sports. Yes, right up there with Bears-Packers and, more relevant today, Cubs-Cardinals. Commerce beats Competition too often, which shouldn't be surprising considering that it is pro sports. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein insists that sending Kris Bryant to the minor leagues this week was a baseball decision. Meanwhile, pitching ace Jon Lester was quoted as saying after the move, "It's a business." No, sir, your boss said it's baseball. Lester also was quoted as proclaiming, "As a player, it (bleeps)." Yet as a veteran, Lester long ago accepted the business of baseball and recently also a $155 million contract. So why does Epstein keep saying that sending down Bryant was about baseball? A good guess is that Commerce-over-Competition thing. Sports is a tug between financial considerations and championship aspirations. Sometimes decisions have to be made to balance the two. One of the defenses for sending down Bryant is that if it's OK for players to make money an object, it must be OK for management to do so. The difference is that a player isn't compromising the competition by using the system to maximize his compensation. Unless, that is, he's Manny Ramirez -- ironically whom Epstein brought into the Cubs' organization -- dogging it as a negotiating ploy. Ramirez let greed get in the way of his Red Sox teammates succeeding and of Boston fans receiving their money's worth.

The problem with demoting Bryant even for a couple of weeks and handful of games in the name of business is that it allows Commerce to trump Competition. As ESPN commentator Curt Schilling put it Wednesday on a conference call, a player wants to know that the front office is all in. Especially disappointing about Bryant is the benefit to the franchise and fans won't be reaped until 2021. By starting the season in the minor leagues, Bryant will be under Cubs' control for an additional season. Think about this: Epstein makes a big point that the shelf life in his job is 10 years at the most. Epstein has been with the Cubs for three seasons. Taking him at his word, in 2021 his tenure here will end. Kris Bryant and agent Scott Boras might carry a grudge over this week's manipulation of service time and inflict payback by spurning the Cubs when eligible for free agency. By then Epstein will be gone anyway, leaving the predicament to his successor. But 2021 is a long ways away … though Cubs management must not think so if it felt the need to pick Commerce over Competition in 2015. The Cubs have less chance to win this month with Bryant in the minors instead of the majors, though Epstein surely wouldn't allow himself to agree. Epstein's policy is that a player shouldn't begin his major-league career on Opening Day. If that one makes little sense, try this one: Bryant needs to go down and improve defensively. What if he doesn't get better? What if he stinks at third base and in the outfield? Will his yearly 30-40 home runs wallow in the minors forever? No, probably not because at some point Competition will win out over Commerce. Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta tweeted about Bryant, "stay the course … WE WILL have a spot waiting." Until Bryant fills it, the score will remain Commerce 1, Competition 0. -- Daily Herald Two Cubs among top NL rookie contenders By Bruce Miles The Cubs can keep Kris Bryant from a year of service time by sending him to the minor leagues to start the season. But that won't necessarily keep him from winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award. Bryant was the hottest Cubs topic in spring training and maybe the hottest topic in all of major-league baseball. The Cubs' decision to start him at Class AAA Iowa this season drew fire from Bryant's agent, Scott Boras, and from the players association. By not putting Bryant on the big-league roster for the April 5 season opener and delaying his debut until later this month, the Cubs will prevent the third baseman from hitting the open market until he has had almost seven full years of major-league service time.

But there could be plenty of time for Bryant to be rookie of the year in the National League this season. There is Cubs precedent. In 1998, the Cubs held pitcher Kerry Wood in Iowa until mid-April, and Wood went on to beat out the Rockies' Todd Helton for rookie of the year. Here is how the freshman class stacks up for 2015: Kris Bryant: Once Bryant is no longer able to accumulate enough days for a full season, he'll be up -- and if he performs as he did in spring training, he'll be off and running toward top rookie honors. In 14 Cactus League games, Bryant put up a batting line of .425/.477/1.175 with a major-league-leading 9 homers. Between Iowa and Class AA Tennessee last year, the Cubs' top pick from 2013 went a combined .325/.438/.661 with 43 homers and 110 RBI. The Cubs may get him some time in the outfield during what should be a short stay in Class AAA ball. No matter. With a bat like that, they'll find a place for him in the field. Right now, he's the odds-on choice for rookie of the year. Yasmany Tomas: There had been talk Tomas might start the season in the minor leagues, too. But the 24-year-old native of Cuba has gotten through the week so far alive and kicking. Much like Bryant, the talk about Tomas has been his learning curve at third base. The Arizona Diamondbacks rookie entered Wednesday with a line of .276/.333/.448 with 2 homers. It may end up that left field is his best position. Sound familiar? Jorge Soler: With all the Cubs talk about Bryant sent to minor-league camp and Javier Baez being demoted to Class AAA Iowa, people may have forgotten about Jorge Soler. He's a physical specimen who just needs to stay healthy. Entering Wednesday, he had a spring line of .333/.386/.569 with 3 homers. It's possible Cubs players could go 1-2 in rookie of the year balloting, and that it might not be Bryant-Soler. Honorable mention: Not only does the Dodgers' Joc Pederson have a cool-sounding name, but it looks like he can play a little. He struck out 149 times last year at Class AAA Albuquerque, so that's a concern. The Cubs' embarrassment of riches also includes shortstop Addison Russell, who will open in the minors. He could be heard from sooner rather than later. -- Cubs.com Rizzo leads Cubs' power barrage By Carrie Muskat and Adam McCalvy MESA, Ariz. -- Anthony Rizzo smacked a three-run homer, Jorge Soler and Dexter Fowler belted two-run shots and Tommy La Stella added a solo blast to power the Cubs to an 11-7 victory Wednesday over the Brewers in Chicago's final Cactus League game.

Kyle Lohse, who had a 1.80 ERA coming into the game, served up three of the Cubs' four home runs, and was charged with seven runs on eight hits over four innings. Chicago's Jason Hammel, making his final spring start, scattered six hits over five innings, striking out five. "It was two-out hits, and that's the part that bugs me," Hammel said. "I'll give up hits, but I have to do a better job closing the door there." Trailing 7-0 after four innings, the Brewers got going offensively and eventually outhit the Cubs, 16-13. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Multi-purpose: La Stella started at second base on Wednesday, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon also will insert him at third, depending on matchups. The Cubs aren't counting on La Stella for much power. He hit one home run in 93 games with the Braves last year, and has hit 21 over four Minor League seasons. Homer happy: Lohse had sailed through Spring Training, allowing no more than one earned run in any of his first four Cactus League starts, but his final tuneup was forgettable: Four innings, eight hits, seven earned runs, three home runs. He did not allow more than two homers in any of his 31 regular-season starts last season. Leadoff man: Dexter Fowler went 3-for-3, walked in his other at-bat, and scored four runs. That's exactly what the Cubs want a leadoff man to do -- set up the RBI guys. Fowler tripled to start the game, walked in the third, homered in the fourth, and singled in the fifth, and is batting .319. Bench battle: The Brewers' roster decisions are down to two players -- outfielder Logan Schafer and non-roster utility man Elian Herrera -- for one spot on the bench. Both contributed against the Cubs, Schafer logging three hits and three RBIs, and Herrera hitting a pinch-hit double. Schafer boosted his Cactus League batting average to .300, while Herrera is hitting .378. QUOTABLE "It's not a bad thing to have a little bit of a wake-up call. You don't want it to be the last one, but I've been around long enough that it's not going to freak me out. It's not that you don't care. You care. But spring is the time to do it." -- Lohse, on ending Spring Training with a dud. "We posted this extremely painful workout for everybody, sans batting practice. They look at all this stuff to do and see all this defensive work, all this baserunning, all this different stuff to do and no BP. Then, [first-base coach Brandon Hyde] went in there and broke the news to them that it was April Fools' [Day]." -- Maddon on the joke played on the players Wednesday. SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Spring break: Wednesday's crowd of 13,375 boosted the Cubs' home attendance to 222,415, an all-time Spring Training single-season record. The Cubs topped the old mark, which they set last year, their first at Sloan Park, when they drew 213,815 fans. WHAT'S NEXT Brewers: Matt Garza, who spent the spring adjusting his mechanics in an effort to avoid injury, will make his final tuneup on Thursday against the Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. Because it is San Diego's final game in Arizona, it will begin one hour earlier than usual, at 2:05 p.m. CT, and will air via brewers.com webcast with Joe Block and Jeff Levering on the call. Cubs: After an off-day Thursday, the Cubs wrap up the spring schedule with two exhibition games against the D-backs at Chase Field. Edwin Jackson will start Friday, while Travis Wood and Kyle Hendricks will pitch on Saturday. Friday's game, scheduled to start at 8:40 p.m. CT, will be broadcast on MLB.TV and a free cubs.com audio webcast.

-- Cubs.com Cubs' new additions can provide needed OBP boost By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- There's a reason the Cubs added players like Dexter Fowler and Tommy La Stella, and why manager Joe Maddon is considering having the pitcher bat eighth to get an extra leadoff-type batter in the lineup. The Cubs have plenty of power. They just need guys to get on base ahead of them. Last season, the Cubs ranked 13th in the National League in on-base percentage at .300 -- only the Reds (.296) and Padres (.292) were worse. "You're trying to feed guys who can drive in points," Maddon said. "You want [Nos.] 1-2 to have a better feeling that they're going to get on base." Fowler, who drew more walks (66) last season than anyone on the Cubs except for Anthony Rizzo (73), will take over as the leadoff man. La Stella, who has been used at second and third, has a career .407 OBP in the Minor Leagues. "To me, it's always about feeding your best RBI guy," Maddon said. "You feed your best RBI guy with the highest on-base percentage guys in front of them." The power is there. Even though they've gotten a boost by playing in what Maddon calls "Colorado South," the Cubs ranked second this spring in home runs. "We're going to hit home runs and the biggest thing we need to preach to everyone is that someone is going to hit home runs," Rizzo said. "It's about passing it on to the next guy -- if it's not me, if it's not Kris [Bryant], if it's not [Jorge Soler], it could be Starlin [Castro], it could be Dexter, [Chris] Coghlan, someone's going to do it. It's more about manufacturing runs without the long ball. Home runs are going to come." Jeff Samardzija knows first-hand about the highs and lows of the Cubs' offense. Last season, he compiled a 1.46 ERA in his first 10 starts, but was winless because of a lack of run support. The right-hander, now with the White Sox, called the Cubs offense "feast or famine." He's right. Another number to watch this year? How the Cubs do with runners in scoring position. Last season, they ranked 14th in the NL with a .223 average with runners in scoring position. "We need to manufacture the smaller runs, get the runners over from second to third, get them in with less than two outs, and just add on those points," Rizzo said. "We're going to hit the home runs and the more we can do the small ball and get the runners over and drive them in with just a single, I think the better off we'll be. We all know especially after the last few years, we're going to hit home runs." -- Cubs.com Maddon's hoagie to be featured at Wrigley Field By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Among the new food items at Wrigley Field this season will be a Joe Maddon approved Italian hoagie sandwich, which the Cubs manager is willing to demonstrate how to make. The recipe comes from Maddon's family restaurant, Third Base Dugout, in Hazleton, Pa.

"I'm certain the fans are going to dig them," Maddon said Wednesday. "I wouldn't want anything out there that I didn't think was good, but I think this is really good." The hoagie features ham, salami, white American cheese, crisp lettuce, sliced tomatoes, spicy peppers and olive oil, served on a fresh hoagie roll. "The key is the peppers," Maddon said. "The bread and the peppers -- without those peppers, it just doesn't have the same taste." The recipe came from his mother Beanie's sister, Aunt Geneva, who created it in the late '40s. "My Aunt Geneva was a stickler on a neat sandwich," Maddon said. "When you picked it up, if the ingredients fell out, she would not have that whatsoever. It had to stay within the bun." His Aunt Ted (Teodora), who is Maddon's godmother, is the one who came up with the luncheonette in Hazleton, and the hoagie is a popular item there. Maddon made them last year for the Rays players, passing them out at lunch time. Isn't it hard to create a neat hoagie sandwich? "I wanted real sliced onions, that has to be part of the sandwich, too," Maddon said. "Olive oil on the bread only, there's none of this mayonnaise or special sauces or stuff like that. I'm salivating, I'm really hungry." And if the Wrigley Field concession folks have a tough time putting everything together, Maddon will assist. "I'd be happy to go help them one day, to make sure it's being done properly -- a little quality assurance," he said. -- Cubs.com Talent flowing through entire Cubs pipeline By Phil Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- When the Cubs head onto the field behind Jon Lester on Sunday night in Chicago, their third baseman will be a guy who has homered once every 15 at-bats in the Cactus League, putting up a .283/.389/.565 slash line. No, as you might have heard, it won't be Kris Bryant. Most likely it will be Mike Olt, who is 26 and on his own mission. He's had a terrific Spring Training, not that you would know it by reading headlines or listening to national talk shows. "I've been really impressed with his defense, probably more than I thought,'' Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Offensively, he's made some nice adjustments there.'' This is a guy who absolutely tore apart the Arizona Fall League three years ago, exactly like Bryant did after the 2013 season. Olt has hit some bumps in the road since then, mostly because of beanings and vision troubles, but he played well enough this spring that he would have earned the job vacated by Luis Valbuena had Bryant not overshadowed him. It's been that way everywhere you look around the Cubs' Sloan Park complex over the last month. The top prospects responsible for MLB.com ranking the farm system first have almost universally played as advertised -- consider Albert Almora's .364 batting average and .891 OPS in 15 games, for instance -- while a lot of other players have raised their games to try to capture a spot on Maddon's 25-man roster.

Pitchers Brian Schlitter and Zac Rosscup and outfielder/utility man Junior Lake were optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday morning, but Maddon says all three played at "a level that would put them on a Major League team right now.'' Not that long ago -- 2014, to be exact -- the Cubs were an equal-opportunity team, opening their door both to their own young players and to guys who had fallen between cracks elsewhere. But that changed this spring, with Maddon arriving at the same time as the wave of talent that Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod have been building in their three seasons on the job, with owner Tom Ricketts investing heavily in the amateur talent they've identified. Maddon has been impressed, to say the least. "Personality-wise, I have really been impressed with them as people, and their work has been great,'' Maddon said. "As baseball players, you all knew how good they are. I'm getting to see it for the first time.'' While Bryant was the headliner before he was sent to Iowa on Monday, in Maddon's mind, he wasn't much different than Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler, who came to camp set as the right fielder after a successful audition last spring. He has hit .345 with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 18 games. "Coming into it, I had heard about him,'' Maddon said. "To get the opportunity to work with somebody like that, as managers and coaches, it's somewhat unique. He's really that impressive, offensively and defensively, [and I] think he can be a good baserunner also. He's just a great guy. He smiles easily. He listens well. He's the kind of guy you want to grow with.'' From the top lines of the Cubs' inventory of players on down, it's been a productive spring. Maddon should feel great when he gets on a plane to fly to Chicago late Saturday afternoon. "I think we did a nice job early on of laying out what needed to be done individually, in our meetings, and these guys have gone out and attacked this stuff,'' Maddon said. "Just by watching it yourself, you can see a lot of improvement in individuals right now. A lot of that was very well directed. I'm really pleased where we're at right now compared to the first day.'' No one epitomizes that improvement more than outfielder Matt Szczur, the 25-year-old former Villanova football star. Like Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara and Lake, among others, he's a holdover from the Jim Hendry regime. His athleticism always stood out, but there were questions about his bat, which only grew when he hit .226 in 66 big league plate appearances last season. He went to work tearing down and rebuilding his right-handed swing over the winter in Philadelphia and worked overtime with John Mallee, the Cubs' new hitting coach, after arriving in Arizona in early February. He's crushed the ball all spring, with five home runs to go alongside a .362 batting average in 21 games. In Maddon's words, he's "hit the ball far and consistently well,'' and finds himself sweating out the final cuts. "The spring has been good,'' Szczur said. "Everything has been going well. I worked really hard in the offseason with my hitting instructor. John Mallee and myself clicked right away. He knew what I was working on. We sort of fine-tuned things together and it's been working out for me.'' Szczur was a fifth-round Draft pick in 2010. He has had a front-row view to his organization's collection of talent. He has climbed the ladder one rung at a time, with at least 121 games at every level since a quick promotion from Class A to Class A Advanced in 2011. He says the competition for jobs is "unbelievable'' but it doesn't sound like he'd want it any other way.

"The players are great,'' Szczur said. "They're all great teammates, great people. It's fun to get out there and get out to work because they get after it just like you do. Every day's a work day. All the players take it serious. They're not lackadaisical. They go about it the right way. It's a great thing for the organization.'' Talent is pouring through the pipeline, and it's not going to stop when guys like Bryant and Baez join Soler in Chicago. -- Cubs.com Rosscup, Schlitter and Lake optioned to Triple-A By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs optioned left-handed pitcher Zac Rosscup, right-handed pitcher Brian Schlitter and outfielder Junior Lake to Triple-A Iowa to reduce the spring roster to 32, and manager Joe Maddon said he expects to finalize the list on Friday. "All three of them performed at a level presently and in the past that would put them on a Major League team right now," Maddon said. "Right now, there's no room at the inn, which is a good thing for us." The move leaves six outfielders in camp: Chris Coghlan, Chris Denorfia, Dexter Fowler, Jorge Soler, Ryan Sweeney and Matt Szczur. Coghlan was scratched from Wednesday's game with a stiff neck, and was listed as day to day. Denorfia has been battling a sore left hamstring, and ran the bases on Wednesday. However, he has not played in a game since March 17. Jonathan Herrera, a utility player, also is in camp. The Cubs' backup infielder list is limited to Arismendy Alcantara and Tommy La Stella. "It'd be nice to have [another backup infielder]," Maddon said. "You don't absolutely have to have it, but you'd like to have it. The fact [Alcantara] is so versatile makes a big difference. It comes down to pinch-hitting, who you're going to hit for, and then you figure out the need for the greatest depth." After an off-day on Thursday, the Cubs will finish the spring schedule with two exhibition games Friday and Saturday against the D-backs at Chase Field. Lake had a much improved spring, batting .302 in 21 games with five stolen bases. He benefitted from some guidance from Robinson Cano this offseason. The two were teammates briefly on Estrellas in the Dominican Republic, and Cano stressed to Lake the need to have a good approach at the plate, and focus on hitting the ball to center. Credit Cubs Minor League coach Desi Wilson, too, for Lake's improved play. Wilson was on the Estrellas staff, and talked to Lake every day. "He told me, 'I don't care if you get a hit, I want to know what your plan is at the plate,'" Lake said. -- Cubs.com Hammel excited to see Wrigley renovations By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- The new video scoreboard at Wrigley Field was installed above the left-field bleachers in Chicago on Wednesday, and Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel has seen the photos of the renovation work being done at the 100-year-old ballpark.

"I'm excited," Hammel said. "It [doesn't look very good right now], but you know there's a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow there. It is what it is right now, and we're going to deal with it, but it's exciting. It's a long time coming and fun to be a part of, even if it will be a little sketchy to get around. "There's a lot of time and effort going into a place that's pretty sacred ground. I think it'll be a lot of fun." Cubs officials have talked to the players about how the ongoing construction will affect the daily schedule. Hammel doesn't anticipate too many problems. "Honestly, I'm a pretty easy-to-please guy," Hammel said. "As long as I have a big league uniform, it's fun for me. It's going to be fun to go back in time later in my life to say I was part of that. It might be tough now, but we get to see the bones going up and it'll be a fun story to tell later." Among the changes this year are that players can pick their walk-up and warm-up music. Hammel is still deciding, but is leaning toward some Seattle grunge. "All that stuff will be so cool," he said. "It's like jewels on an old crown, I guess. It's a beautiful stadium. I don't know if that's a good metaphor or not. If you look at a basic crown, they're boring, but throw a couple jewels on it and it's nice." His young son won't be picking the warm-up tune. "We won't be going with 'Jake and the Never Land Pirates,'" Hammel said. When Jeff Samardzija warmed up at Wrigley, they played Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water," which Hammel said was "solid." But he can't use that. "If he comes over and is pitching against us in the crosstown rivalry, he'll be looking at me, and I'll never hear the end of it," Hammel said. -- Cubs.com Lester ready for Opening Night By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Opening Night starter Jon Lester passed all the tests after Tuesday's Minor League game, even though the Cubs left-hander wasn't happy with his outing. "He felt great," manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday of Lester, who threw 84 pitches over six innings. "I guess he threw some high-velocity pitches more consistently and accurately than usual. Of course, he wasn't completely satisfied with his outing and feels there's more in the tank, which we all know to be true. Going into Sunday, we'll keep an open mind." Lester will start the season opener against the Cardinals on Sunday night at Wrigley Field. Maddon expects the lefty to be able to go 95-105 pitches, depending on how difficult the innings are. • The Cubs will open the season with three catchers, including Welington Castillo, who has been the starter the last two seasons. Maddon met with Castillo to discuss his role as backup to Miguel Montero and David Ross. "I told him, I think he's a Major League catcher, we think he's a Major League catcher," Maddon said. "Obviously, it's going to be more difficult to be slotted in than he'd like to be right now. There's a lot of opportunity in the latter part of the game, whether it's pinch-running for somebody else or pinch-hitting, and beyond that getting him some starts.

"Of course, somebody will get injured -- it always happens -- so be ready," Maddon said of his message. "He's still young. He's the kind of guy I don't think we want to lose. That's a premium position to find. You don't shake a tree and find a good catcher. We have three good catchers here and that's really nice." -- Cubs.com Jackson, Wood vying for final spot in rotation By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Edwin Jackson will make his final spring start on Friday when the Cubs face the D-backs at Chase Field. Will it be his last start of the year? Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday he wanted to talk to Jackson and Travis Wood to let them know where they fit on the final 25-man roster. Wood is scheduled to start Saturday against the D-backs. The club's rotation already includes Jon Lester, Jason Hammel, Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks. Jackson has given up nine earned runs on 19 hits over 15 1/3 innings in five games (four starts) this spring, while Wood has served up nine earned runs on 26 hits over 19 1/3 innings in five starts. Whoever is not starting will likely be assigned to the bullpen as a long man, Maddon said. Jackson, who has struggled in two seasons with the Cubs, reported to camp much leaner after spending the winter at what he called a "boot camp" in Arizona. About 20 other players from different teams also participated, including Andre Ethier and Jonny Gomes. "I called it 'boot camp' because it was a different type of workout," he said. Jackson has spent past winters at a facility in Georgia, but this was his first at the Athletes' Performance Institute (API). "I was in shape before, but now I'm in better shape, different shape," Jackson said. "I kept the same weight, but toned up a little. ... I feel like an athlete again." -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs 15-15-1 in spring, Kris Bryant must watch By Jesse Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- The Chicago Cubs won their Cactus League finale, 11-6 over the Milwaukee Brewers, finishing the spring season with a 15-15-1 mark. Spring Totals At-Bats: Jorge Soler, 55 Batting avg (min 20 AB): Kris Bryant, .425 Home runs: Bryant, 9. RBIs: Bryant, Soler, 15. Strikeouts: Javier Baez, 20 Stolen bases: Junior Lake, 5

Lowest ERA (min 10 IP): Joseph Ortiz, 1.59 Highest ERA: Eric Jokisch, 8.80 Errors: Starlin Castro, Bryant, 3 Best Moment: Baez, Soler and Bryant going back-to-back-to-back in a game against the Cleveland Indians Second best moment: Kyle Schwarber's grand slam in his first big league spring at-bat Worst moment: Baez's 4-strikeout day against the Diamondbacks Best young player: Bryant Best veteran: Welington Castillo Best newcomer: Tommy La Stella Kris Bryant had a great spring and led the team in batting average and home runs while tying for the lead in RBIs.Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports Summary: Bryant's at-bats became a must watch -- and that's saying something for spring training. He hit home runs off of fastballs and off-speed pitches both high and low, inside and outside the strike zone. And he hit them to all parts of the ballpark. His best may have come on a sinker away in one game, a pitch he's had problems with in the past. Overall, the group of young players that took the field looked more than comfortable in the big league environment. Albert Almora, Schwarber and Addison Russell had professional at-bats while Russell looked like the real deal at shortstop. Soler was every bit the beast his teammates claim he is. The Cubs farm system is highly ranked for a reason and it was apparent this spring. Not surprisingly, several veterans came on strong later in camp including Anthony Rizzo, Dexter Fowler and Jason Hammel. Hammel, in particular, took a bullpen session in which he threw only fastballs and segued that into three really good starts to prepare him for the regular season. The hope is Jon Lester is ready as well after going through a dead-arm period. It took some getting used to but the players came around to how Joe Maddon wants them to play -- aggressive on the base paths. Early March outs at second and third turned into extra bases later in the month. The Cubs played better baseball as the schedule inched closer to April finishing the Cactus League with a 15-9 mark after starting 0-6. None of it means anything for next week but at least Maddon can be comfortable knowing his team is starting to get his message. What's Next: The Cubs are off on Thursday before taking on the Diamondbacks both Friday and Saturday at Chase field in exhibition contests. They open the regular season on Sunday night against the St. Louis Cardinals. -- ESPNChicago.com Welington Castillo realizing three catchers a reality By Jesse Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- The most honest and transparent of all things the Chicago Cubs' front office has stated since they took over the team may have come at the beginning of this spring. They declared there was a possibility they would carry three catchers on their roster to start the season. No one believed them.

Surprisingly, it looks like they might. Against most conventional thinking, Miguel Montero, David Ross and Welington Castillo should be in the dugout come Sunday night when the regular season begins. Remember, none can play another position besides catcher. It’s unorthodox to say the least. A trade could still happen for Castillo between now and then but it’s not likely. In fact, he figured he would be gone by now. “I thought I was going to be traded but I’m here and I’m going to do my best to help this team win,” Castillo said Wednesday before the Cubs Cactus League finale against the Milwaukee Brewers. “I’m just going to prepare like I’m going to play every day. At some point I’ll get in and maybe help the team win.” It’s a good attitude to have because playing time will be sparse. Despite a very good spring -- Castillo threw out 5 of 10 runners -- Ross and Montero figure to get the majority of the playing time. Manager Joe Maddon discussed the situation with his third catcher. “I told him I think he’s a major league catcher,” Maddon said. “It will be more difficult to slot him as much as would like to be ... . Of course someone is going to get injured. It always happens so be ready. Don’t languish or be upset that you’re not getting playing time early.” Castillo has never rocked the boat and he probably won’t now. It’s still much more likely than not he’ll be playing for another team sooner rather than later but in the meantime he needs to be ready for a new role: bench player. “It’s not easy,” Castillo said of pinch-hitting. “I tip my hat to players that do it well. I’m going to have to learn. It won’t be easy but I’ll try to do my best every time.” Like the front office, Maddon insists they won’t just give Castillo away. Maybe now that teams see the Cubs are serious about keeping three catchers they’ll raise their offers. “[Castillo] is a guy we don’t want to lose,” Maddon said. “It’s a premium position to lose. You don’t shake a tree and find a good catcher.” -- ESPNChicago.com Chicago Cubs cut three; roster now at 32 By Jesse Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- The Chicago Cubs continued to shape their roster on Wednesday heading into this weekend's opening night game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Sent to Triple-A Iowa were pitchers Zac Rosscup and Brian Schlitter along with outfielder Junior Lake. Lake performed well this spring after an awful 2014 season, but outfielder Matt Szczur has become the surprise of camp. He's likely to make the team -- though he remains in a roster battle with Ryan Sweeney and spring invitee Jonathan Herrera. "You'll never finish the season with the same 25 you start with," manager Joe Maddon said. "Stay ready because the call can come at any moment." Szczur is hitting .349 with five home runs in the Cactus League after hitting just one home run at Triple-A all of last season. He said he "found" his hitting stroke this past winter after fully concentrating on baseball after years of being a "football guy." But Sweeney has a major league contract paying him $1.5 million this year while Herrera plays the infield. As of now, the Cubs only have one back-up there. "It would be nice to have it," Maddon said. "You don't have to have it but we'd like to have it. The fact that he's [Herrera] so versatile makes a big difference."

Herrera is hitting .308 with a .357 on-base percentage this spring and accorded himself well around the infield. Maddon said we should know by Friday who the final roster spots will go to. Sunday catcher: As of Wednesday morning, Maddon wasn't revealing his catcher for Sunday night when Jon Lester takes the mound. He's made the decision, now he just needs to inform the players. "Talk to both of those guys and let them know who's starting and who's not," Maddon said. Since the signing of David Ross and the trade for Miguel Montero, the debate over who should catch Lester -- at least in the first game -- has been a good one. With the right-handed Adam Wainwright on the mound for St. Louis, should Maddon go with the left-handed Montero or the weaker bat in Ross? Ross has caught Lester with a lot of success over the past couple of seasons but could be overmatched against Wainwright. Based on the spring, expect Ross to be behind the plate come Sunday. Fifth starter: Maddon sounded like he's made the decision on who his fifth starter will be, and like his catchers, he needs to inform Edwin Jackson and Travis Wood of their roles. This one seems like an easy decision. Jackson's final appearance last season was in the bullpen. That's where he should start this one. "Still haven't had those discussions with the players yet," Maddon said. What's next: The Cubs' roster stands at 32. It has to be down to 25 by Sunday so seven cuts have to be made between now and then. Expect them to come no later than Friday night or possibly Saturday morning. More than likely the 25 who are coming back to Chicago will know by the time the team takes the field on Friday in an exhibition against the Diamondbacks. Those 25 will head home on Saturday morning while the Cubs play a minor-league squad that day against Arizona. It's likely to include Javier Baez and/or Kris Bryant, according to Maddon. The likely cuts, or disabled list assignments, include pitchers Drake Britton, Jacob Turner (injured), Tsuyoshi Wada (injured) and Dallas Beeler (injured) along with catcher Taylor Teagarden and outfielder Chris Denorfia (injured). The final cut will be either Szczur, Sweeney or Herrera. April Fools: Joe Maddon had his coaches post a rigorous workout schedule for Wednesday morning in place of batting practice. After the news sunk in, the team was informed it was only an April Fool's joke. --