June 16, 2017

CSNChicago.com, How It All Sped Up On Kyle Schwarber And Why Cubs Bet On Him Over Michael Conforto http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/how-it-all-sped-kyle-schwarber-and-why-cubs-bet-him-over-michael-conforto-trea-turner-mlb-draft

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon maintains faith in Kyle Schwarber as a catcher http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kyle-schwarber-cubs-notes-spt-0616-20170615-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Ian Happ hopes to make most of uncertain playing time during trip home http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-ian-happ-returns-pittsburgh-spt-0616-20170615-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs caught between winning and developing young stars who are struggling http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-joe-maddon-cubs-young-players-20170615-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Conforto on Schwarber-like 2016 struggles: Demotion ‘valuable for me’ http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/conforto-on-schwarber-like-16-struggles-demotions-valuable-for-me/

Chicago Sun-Times, The Cubs will be just fine, right? That’s what all the Homers say http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/the-cubs-will-be-just-fine-right-thats-what-all-the-homers-say/

Chicago Sun-Times, Tunney blames Cubs for Wrigley security stalemate http://chicago.suntimes.com/politics/tunney-blames-cubs-for-wrigley-security-stalemate/

Daily Herald, Cubs have 2 things going for them: calendar and geography http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170615/cubs-have-2-things-going-for-them-calendar-and-geography

Cubs.com, Lester takes life lessons from dad, grandfather http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/236723848/cubs-ace-jon-lester-on-fathers-day/

Cubs.com, Maddon on hand to dedicate HIP playground http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/236675332/joe-maddon-opens-playground-in-hazleton-pa/

Cubs.com, Cubs, Bucs to honor Negro Leagues on Friday http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/236732536/cubs-pirates-to-honor-negro-leagues-on-friday/

ESPNChicago.com, Intense, humble ... sexy? How Kris Bryant's teammates describe the MVP http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/44531/intense-humble-sexy-how-kris-bryants-teammates-describe-the-mvp

-- CSNChicago.com How It All Sped Up On Kyle Schwarber And Why Cubs Bet On Him Over Michael Conforto By Patrick Mooney

Kyle Schwarber could retire tomorrow and live off what he did in the World Series, signing autographs at memorabilia shows, playing golf with corporate sponsors and letting it rip on some future Cubs network. If David Ross can go “Dancing with the Stars,” how about the guy who did show choir in high school? Schwarber could also play every day from here and still not reach Game 162 until the third series after the All-Star break, a reminder of how much he has already packed into his big-league career and how far he still has to go to live up to these great expectations. That’s part of the broader point manager Joe Maddon made late Wednesday night after a 9-4 loss to the New York Mets. This young core group that made history has never been through anything like this before. Schwarber crushing a 467-foot homer off Matt Harvey over the Shea Bridge at Citi Field is a reminder of what the Cubs have been missing during an erratic 32-33 start — and how the Mets handled Michael Conforto when he repeatedly struggled after instant success in New York. Leading up to the 2014 draft, Stan Zielinski, the legendary area scout who died in January, filed a report comparing the Indiana University slugger to Babe Ruth. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein envisioned the left-handed power and hard-charging personality as a combination of David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia. This is the bottom line to that No. 4 overall pick. “I still believe 100 percent that we got the right player for the Cubs in Kyle Schwarber,” amateur scouting director Matt Dorey recently said with a laugh on the Cubs Talk podcast. “I think having a World Series ring is a pretty good measure of how productive that pick was for this organization.” No doubt. It just shows that there are no safe picks or sure things or slam-dunk decisions, no matter how much people talk about upsides and high ceilings during draft week. Look at Conforto, who landed with the Mets six spots after Schwarber, hit two home runs during the 2015 World Series and last season got sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas in late June and the middle of August. While the Cubs so far haven’t sounded open to that idea of a mental reset with Schwarber — whose .178 batting average is the lowest among all qualified big-league hitters this year — Conforto responded by putting up 14 homers and a .999 OPS and becoming a leadoff solution for the Mets. That experiment didn’t work with Schwarber, who does have 12 homers, ranking fourth in the majors by seeing 4.45 pitches per plate appearance. “I haven’t gotten too emotionally attached to the performance,” Dorey said. “Our evaluations and how we saw Kyle — it was a culmination of what we think he’s going to do over the length of his career. This is a small snapshot. “I don’t even know if at this point he has a full season of major-league at-bats under his belt. So you put that into context and then you also realize he’s still recovering from a serious knee injury that took away a huge part of his developmental curve. “We knew how advanced he was — and what he did in the World Series was superhuman. But at the same time, we know that — Theo says it all the time — no developmental path for any prospect is linear. “Another part of it is he’s just putting a lot of pressure on himself to be such a huge part of what the next stage of this World Series contender is trying to be. I think — like a lot of players — it sped up on him a little bit and he’s gotten away from what he’s great at, which is really managing the zone and using the whole field.” The big idea leading into the 2014 draft had the Cubs picking fourth from a group headlined by three pitchers. The Houston Astros failed to sign Brady Aiken, the Miami Marlins hope Tyler Kolek comes back from Tommy John surgery and the rebuilding White Sox see Carlos Rodon as a foundation piece.

Meanwhile Trea Turner — the 13th overall pick out of North Carolina State University who would get flipped from the San Diego Padres to the Washington Nationals — could be the next college hitter from that class to play in the World Series. “It’s been amazing across the board,” Dorey said, “how advanced these college hitters are, how willing organizations are to take the reins off them. The traditional wisdom of development was to always be ultra-patient. But these guys just go out and dominate the competition, so it’s hard to keep them down. “We liked Trea a lot. We liked Conforto a lot, too. He was in that bucket right with Schwarber as the three college bats we really targeted. We were really splitting hairs at the end. But, ultimately, it came down to Kyle, the relationship that Kyle had with Stan Zielinski, the access we had to Kyle from the top.” Conforto — the son of an Olympic gold medalist in synchronized swimming and a Penn State University linebacker — came from a strong family background. The Cubs had doubts that Turner — who hit .342 in 73 games and stole 33 bases for a 95-win Nationals team last — would stick at shortstop. Tracy Smith, the Indiana coach at the time, got drafted by the Cubs in the late 1980s and played in their minor-league system. Schwarber also agreed to a below-slot $3.125 million bonus that allowed the Cubs to take more chances on pitchers deeper in the draft. Schwarber won over Cubs executives with his “It really f------ pisses me off when people say I can’t catch” declaration during a meeting at the team’s Arizona complex, showing the confidence that made him a Wrigleyville legend and the self-assurance he will need to get out of this downward spiral now. “It’s a great indicator of how locked in Theo is — and will continue to be — with that clubhouse and knowing Kyle’s makeup,” Dorey said. “Not that Conforto or Trea wouldn’t have fit in either, but it just seemed like such a natural fit for what we were trying to accomplish. “And the fact that we really believed in the power, where we had some concerns with Conforto’s. He played in a really non-offensive college park, which is kind of hard to measure. “Obviously, he’s hitting a ton of homers now, but we believed a little bit more in Kyle’s power at the time. At the end of the day, we had backup plans with Trea Turner and Conforto if somebody else would have taken Schwarber. But it was really, like I said, splitting hairs between those three players.” Schwarber has been able to keep most of his frustrations self-contained, working diligently with the hitting coaches, carefully studying video and patiently answering the same questions from reporters. “It’s all a process,” Schwarber said. “It’s just more of staying within myself and not trying to go out there and get hits after hits after hits.” Maddon has seen glimpses of the quick, short swing that allowed Schwarber to blast five home runs in nine playoff games in 2015 and rake in all these off-the-field endorsement opportunities. “His feet are on the ground — he’s not lifting his leg up a lot,” Maddon said. “Great balance in his finish. You’ve seen every time he’s hit the ball well, he’s just able to stand there, because his balance is so good. When a hitter can do that, it means he’s permitting the ball to travel. He’s using his hands. He’s keeping his head still. All the really good things you’re trying to get done.” Someone who can wreck his left knee and step in against Corey Kluber and Andrew Miller less than seven months later in the World Series — with only two Arizona Fall League games to warm up — doesn’t just lose all those skills overnight. “He’s going to have the ability (to) downshift and say: ‘OK, who is Kyle Schwarber as a player?’” Dorey said. “Everybody around him believes in him. We know he’s going to be great.

“It’s just really focusing on not looking at that average, but controlling what he can, which is swinging at the right pitches, controlling one pitch at a time, one at-bat at a time.” -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon maintains faith in Kyle Schwarber as a catcher By Mark Gonzales Kyle Schwarber has caught only five innings in three games this season, but manager Joe Maddon says he has no reservations about leaving his struggling slugger behind the plate for an extended period if needed. "I think given the opportunity, he would be fine back there," Maddon said. Schwarber has been limited catching after undergoing surgery in April 2016 to repair two torn ligaments in his left knee. Schwarber knows the catching is in good hands with Willson Contreras and left-handed hitting veteran Miguel Montero, but he could get more playing time behind the plate in 2018 if his knee can withstand the rigors. "He has been bugging me to do this," Maddon said of Schwarber, who plays left field and handles the designated-hitter duties in interleague games in American League ballparks. "He's a great student. It's good to get him there once in a while so he can feel it." Maddon likes the way Schwarber runs a game behind the plate, from pitch calling to studying pitchers and hitters, while adding that his throwing has improved. Contingency plans: The Cubs will find out Friday if Ben Zobrist's left wrist has healed enough to avoid the 10-day disabled list. The most likely choices to replace Zobrist, if needed, would be left-handed hitting infielder Tommy La Stella, who has played parts of three seasons with the Cubs and would be a dependable short-term fix because of his experience, or switch-hitting corner infielder Jeimer Candelario, who is batting .264 with seven homers and 35 RBIs for Iowa. La Stella batted .304 (7-for-23) before he was optioned last month to Triple-A Iowa, where he's batting .222 in 90 at-bats. Draft digest: The Cubs' 2017 draft includes three under-the-radar picks. Loyola Marymount pitcher and second-round selection Cory Abbott "went on a phenomenal run for the past two months," said Jason McLeod, the club's executive vice president of scouting and player development. Abbott was named the West Coast Conference's pitcher of the year after posting an 11-2 record with a 1.74 ERA, and tossed a perfect game against BYU. The Cubs hope to sign eighth-round pick Jeremy Estrada of Palm Desert High School, who is committed to pitch for John Savage at UCLA. Third baseman Austin Filiere, an eighth-round pick, excelled at MIT after playing at Hamilton High, one of the top programs in Arizona, with Dodgers rookie sensation Cody Bellinger. -- Chicago Tribune Ian Happ hopes to make most of uncertain playing time during trip home By Mark Gonzales

Ian Happ might not play enough this weekend for the liking of several of his family members and friends who plan to watch him in a major-league uniform. The consolation prize for Happ is that he will continue to improve by watching to the point his supporters can watch a more polished version of his play in ensuing seasons. "The game teaches you how to play," hitting coach John Mallee said. "So the more you play the game or the more you watch the game at this level and see how pitchers are trying to get guys out and do different things in different situations and how a pitcher's behavior changes, that helps them get experience just being around it." Happ has shown improvement recently and could get significant time when the Cubs play the Pirates at PNC Park, about 15 minutes from where he grew up. Happ, 22, has hit home runs in two consecutive games, but his biggest improvement might have been not striking out Wednesday after striking out four times after his first grand slam the night before. That's the kind of improvement manager Joe Maddon and the Cubs staff is seeking from their younger players who have stumbled after helping lead them to the 2016 World Series. "(When) they don't start, they're normally somewhat internally dejected," Maddon said. "(But) there's nothing we can do about that. We have so many young guys to play, I'm just trying to balance that out and matching them up against the best matchups." Happ wasn't a part of that World Series achievement, but the Cubs seem committed to him for at least the short term despite a .209 batting average and 37 strikeouts in his first 91 at-bats. "I wish I would be playing a little better, but it has been a blast to be around these guys, work every day, grind it out and turn the page," Happ said. Happ understands he must make continual adjustments. After batting .357 in his first eight games, pitchers adjusted their repertoires against him and he's batting .143 since then. "There's a lot you can learn," Happ said. "There are a lot of older guys who you can learn from and pick their brain, even when you're not playing." The return to Pittsburgh is a source of pride for Happ, the latest local player to reach the majors in a town known more recently for its hockey and football success. "I've had a ton of support there from my Little League days," Happ said. The recent list of local major leaguers includes Sean Casey and Neil Walker. Eventually, Brendan McKay, whom the Rays made the fourth overall selection in this week's draft, should be up too. "(The Penguins) won the Stanley Cup again, and there's a ton of football success (with the Steelers), but Pirates fans have been loyal for a lot of losing seasons," Happ said. "I'm just excited to come home, see everyone, (including) my high school coaches." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs caught between winning and developing young stars who are struggling By Mark Gonzales The Cubs’ Game 7 starting lineup in the 2016 World Series included 22-year-old Addison Russell and 23-year-olds Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez, with 22-year-old Albert Almora Jr. scoring the go-ahead run and 25-year-old Carl Edwards Jr. getting the first two outs of the 10th inning.

Their array of success was supposed to serve as a springboard to continued success in 2017, but each of the five players have experienced speed bumps in their development that have coincided with the Cubs’ 32-33 start. Given their instant rise and spectrum of setbacks, the question lurks as to whether those players peaked too soon last season or this is simply of a case of where players don’t necessarily improve on a linear path, as President Theo Epstein has reiterated through the 2017 season. Manager Joe Maddon, who spent more than half of his baseball career in amateur scouting and player development, provided a thorough evaluation on the relative lack of experience that tempers the talent. “(Ian) Happ didn’t play in the big leagues last year,” Maddon said. “Contreras didn’t play half a season. Schwarber didn’t play at all (until the World Series because of a knee injury). Baez was a backup player, and Almora came up in the middle of the season. "I love my names as much as everyone else does, but these are really young and inexperienced guys. “What you’re primarily seeing are young guys battling to get back to where they had been last year without the benefit of having veteran experience.” It could be tough for Cubs followers to remain patient, but first baseman Anthony Rizzo — who struggled twice at the major league level before producing three consecutive All-Star seasons — explained the task currently facing the youngsters and the Cubs. “We’re developing guys and winning games at the same time, which teams don’t do that,” Rizzo said. “We developed guys and won the World Series. No team has ever done that, I don’t think. You got to take your lumps. It’s baseball. It’s a cat-and-mouse game. “They’re going to adjust to us, we’re going to adjust to them. There are going to be good days and bad days, and everyone knows that. We just need to keep perspective of that. The sun is going to rise. We’re going to wake up in the city.” Thursday’s day off will give the Cubs time to enjoy the sights of New York before leaving in the evening to prepare for a three-game series at Pittsburgh — the site of their last consecutive road victories on April 24-25. -- Chicago Sun-Times Conforto on Schwarber-like 2016 struggles: Demotion ‘valuable for me’ By Gordon Wittenmyer NEW YORK — The kid outfielder made World Series headlines and was handed a starting job the next season despite having played fewer than 75 career games in the big leagues. What could go wrong? ‘‘I guess things kind of turn around pretty quick on you,’’ he said. If that sounds like the Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber, that’s because it basically is — separated by maybe 800 miles and a season. It’s also lefty slugger Michael Conforto, who spoke from the Mets’ clubhouse and from perhaps a deeper understanding of Schwarber’s struggles this season than any player in the majors. The Cubs liked Conforto as the potential No. 4 overall pick in the 2014 draft, but they liked Schwarber even better.

They both broke into the majors in 2015 — barely a year after they were drafted (Conforto 10th overall) — and both starred in a World Series. Conforto went 5-for-15, including a two-home-run game, in the Mets’ five-game loss to the Royals in 2015. Schwarber went 7-for-17 in the Cubs’ seven-game victory against the Indians last season after missing nearly all of the regular season and the first two playoff rounds with a knee injury. And now? Schwarber is recreating Conforto’s .220 sophomore season in what is essentially his own sophomore season. After two minor-league demotions last season to regroup and regain his confidence, Conforto has been one of the Mets’ top hitters this season and a potential All-Star. And while the Cubs steadfastly have refused to consider a demotion for the .178-hitting Schwarber, Conforto said he now sees the value in the demotions. ‘‘Had it been my decision, I would have wanted to stay with the big-league club and figure it out at the big-league level,’’ he said. ‘‘But [by going down], you gain some confidence back. You see some hits fall in, feel the barrel of the bat a little bit. So I think it was valuable for me. ‘‘Looking back, I wouldn’t change anything about the way everything went down. It ended up being a positive thing for me.’’ By contrast, the Cubs force-fed the leadoff spot on Schwarber and stayed with him through six weeks of struggles before dropping him in the order and eventually sitting him against lefties. Since appearing to bottom out with three homers in a 3-for-44 stretch, Schwarber has shown more signs of life with a shortened stroke and a pair of multihit games. That included Wednesday, when he became the first player to hit a ball over the Shea Bridge beyond the wall in right-center at Citi Field. It’s impossible to know whether it’s a sign of anything more than taking advantage of a spotty Marlins staff last week and ailing Mets starter Matt Harvey on Wednesday. Schwarber was 2-for-15 between his multihit games. ‘‘You get to a point where everyone you’re facing is spotting up 95 [mph], and they’ve got great off-speed stuff,’’ Conforto said. ‘‘You’ve just got to be able to take a step back, catch your breath a little bit. I think that’s why you see it so often is [young] guys just haven’t been through it. ‘‘Most first-rounders, they don’t go through that level of struggle ever in their lives. They’re guys who have never hit under .300, that type of thing. So it’s a new experience.’’ It’s what Cubs manager Joe Maddon means when he keeps saying his team is hitting young. Among struggling first-round picks Addison Russell, Ian Happ and Schwarber, none has two full seasons in the majors. On Wednesday, Schwarber played in his 162nd career game — at all levels of pro ball combined. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said last season he probably waited too long to send Conforto down the first time. Conforto said he doesn’t know where he would be now if he had been allowed to fight through his struggles at the big-league level all season in 2016. But he knows struggling is common, even for great young players. ‘‘There’s always a period of struggle in the big leagues,’’ he said. As for Schwarber, his friend and former Team USA teammate, Conforto said: ‘‘All I’ve ever seen him do is play well and perform. He’ll get back to the type of player he knows he is. I’m confident in that because I’ve seen it before.’’ -- Chicago Sun-Times The Cubs will be just fine, right? That’s what all the Homers say By Steve Greenberg

You’ve met my friend Homer before. At least, “Homer” is what I call him in print. What I call him when we’re just two old pals talking tends to be more, shall we say, colorful. This is the kind of Chicago sports fan whose eyes turn the color of a Maxwell Street Polish at any suggestion the 1985 Bears might not be the greatest football team of all time. This is a guy who considers it the most depraved form of sacrilege to compare LeBron James to Michael Jordan, or any team to the Jordan Bulls. And this is a Cubs fan. Oh, he is indeed a Cubs fan. You may well have a Homer in your own life. If you do, you know how these guys roll. “The Cubs? Come on, man, they’re fine,” he snapped at me this week. “They’ve played some of the worst baseball they could play, and they’re right there. What are you so worried about?” Not any one thing, really. More like a whole list of them. For starters, these Cubs couldn’t hit their way out of a wet popcorn box. Their .235 team batting average ranks one spot from the bottom in the National League. Their league-worst .221 mark with runners in scoring position is an abomination. Not to be outdone is their shoddy pitching. Cubs starters have a combined ERA of 4.66, which is more than double what it was at this time last season. And they have all of 24 quality starts in 65 games, a puny total compared with last year’s 46 through 65 games. And how about that 32-33 record? How about the pathetic 12-18 record on the road? Did I mention 14 of the next 17 games are away from Wrigley Field? We could go on and on about what has gone wrong. “They’re just playing down to the level of competition,” Homer said. Yeah, well. So did Goliath. “They probably need to trade for a starting pitcher,” Homer allowed, “but who are you willing to give up on?” Ian Happ, perhaps? “No, he’s the next big thing. You don’t want to trade him.” Kyle Schwarber? “Get outta here.” Javy Baez? Addison Russell? “Look,” Homer said, his blood pressure rising, “the Cubs should be contending for a pennant every year for the next five to seven years. Absolutely. They should be in contention every year if they get enough pitching.” Sure. And if they get enough hitting. And if they spend enough money. And if manager Joe Maddon stops confusing his lineup card with a game of whack-a-mole. And if the rest of the Central Division remains down. And if the Dodgers, Rockies and Nationals don’t become a bunch of world-beaters. “You worry too much,” Homer said.

Maybe. Yet not much feels right about the 2017 Cubs, the most disappointing team in baseball. A year ago, as they were steamrolling to the World Series, everything they did felt right. Now, one strange thing after another is happening. The latest: Maddon putting Anthony Rizzo — an RBI machine with the most home runs in the NL since the start of the 2013 season — in the leadoff spot like he’s Dexter Fowler. Rizzo, We Go? Ugh. No. “It’s June,” Homer said. “They’ll figure it out.” Or they won’t, I told him. In which case he and his ilk surely will be the last to know. -- Chicago Sun-Times Tunney blames Cubs for Wrigley security stalemate By Fran Spielman Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) on Thursday blamed the Wrigley Field security stalemate on the Cubs’ all-or-nothing demand to close Addison and Clark on game days and the team’s refusal to pay for anything less. Tunney said street closings are a non-starter because they would turn a stadium area bustling with new development into a “four-square-block bubble” where nobody could get in or out. Tunney spoke after the Chicago Plan Commission voted to open the mixed use project across the street from Wrigley, known as Addison Park on Clark, to a host of new entertainment and business uses that would draw even more traffic to the congested area. “We’re adding 15 to 20 new businesses, 140 hotel rooms. We’ve got 150 apartments. If you look at everything we’ve approved . . . and you want to build a bubble around it? No one is gonna be able to get in. Not just the residents, but the businesses, the service trucks,” Tunney said. Pointing to the recent terrorist attacks in London and Manchester, Tunney said, “I’m afraid they’re being a little bit shortsighted and reactive to what’s going on around the world. . . . I’m being longer-visioned about everything that we’ve approved and saying, `Folks, we’ve got to figure out how to let our arteries flow properly for everybody. . . . If you look at these projects and say, `Let’s just close the streets for 7 or 8 hours,’ what happens to all the customers and the businesses?” Tunney said the city’s big “frustration” — and the reason Mayor Rahm Emanuel summoned the team to a meeting to discuss six security demands — is that the Cubs are holding out for street closures and refusing to move forward with or pay for anything short. “There’s a frustration of saying, `We can’t close the streets the way you would like to see,’ but we have agreed to . . . narrowing Addison. Let’s start going. We’d like to get that done rather than create a four-square block bubble,” Tunney said. Cubs spokesman Julian Green refused to comment, nor would he say what happened at the team’s meeting with Alicia-Tate Nadeau, executive director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications. --

Daily Herald Cubs have 2 things going for them: calendar and geography By Bruce Miles Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is realistic about where his team is today. "We've earned the right to be in this position," Maddon said of the team's 32-33 record heading into this weekend's series at Pittsburgh. "We've played well enough to be a .500 club. "We have a nice group, and I believe in our group, but we have to prove it on the field. It's very simple." Even with that assessment, the Cubs still have a couple of things going for them: the calendar and geography. There are 97 games remaining in the regular season, and the Cubs entered Thursday's off-day only two games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. The Central remains a division for the taking. As defending world champions, the Cubs have the most talent in the division, and while the Brewers have been a nice story to date, few expect them to win it. The Cubs have averaged 100 victories over the past two seasons, but the good news is that it they may be able to win it this year with 85-87 wins. And once a team gets into the postseason, anything can happen. "It's about getting there," Maddon said. "Of course, you're always trying to win as many games. It's kind of cool to say you averaged 100 wins over the last two seasons, absolutely. But it's a different year, and you've got to attack it differently based on what's going on in front of you, and that's all we're doing right now." Asked by a New York reporter after Wednesday's disappointing loss to the Mets for reasons the Cubs have struggled, Maddon cited youth. "(Ian) Happ didn't play in the big leagues last year," he said. "(Willson) Contreras played half a season. (Kyle) Schwarber did not play at all. (Javier) Baez was a backup player. And (Albert) Almora came up in the middle of the season. I love my names as much as everybody else, but these are really young, inexperienced guys. "What you're primarily seeing is young guys battling to get back to where we had been last year without the benefit of having veteran experience." One of those veterans, team leader Anthony Rizzo, said the Cubs must do several things better. "We've just got to win," he said. "We've got to hold leads. We've got to hit better with runners in scoring position. We've got to give our pitchers better opportunities to come in with a bigger lead. All the little things, all the little things you've just got to get back to. We do a good job of it, but we've got to do a better job. "We're developing guys and winning ballgames at the same time. Teams don't do that. We developed guys last year and won the World Series. No team's ever done that, I don't think. You've got to take your lumps. It's baseball. It's a cat-and-mouse game where they're going to adjust to us, we're going to adjust to them. There's going to be good days and bad days. Everyone knows that. Just keep perspective of that." How the wind blows: There were a couple lighter notes struck during the New York trip. One came when I mentioned to Maddon that the ever-changing wind at Wrigley Field forces him to manage in two ballparks, depending on which way it is blowing. "We're actually managing the lake," he said. "It's not the ballpark. It's the lake. I never want to denigrate that ballpark. I hold it in such high esteem. So I've concluded it's not about the ballpark, it's about the lake. The lake truly controls all of that. It's Lake 1, Lake 2. Leave Wrigley out of it. Wrigley is the best. I've concluded that."

When another reporter cited a study showing that this year's baseballs are "juiced," thus leading to more home runs, Maddon didn't exactly go there. "It's leaving," he said of baseballs flying out of ballparks. "I don't know specifically about all that stuff. It's one of those moments I'd prefer steering clear of right now, especially being in New York City (where Major League Baseball has its offices). I have an off-day (Thursday), and I want it to be an off-day. "I don't know. But the ball has been going. I can't deny that. We've hit home runs into the wind at home that have surprised me a little bit, too. But I'm certain you're going to hear that's not true, that the ball is the same, which I accept." -- Cubs.com Lester takes life lessons from dad, grandfather By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- If the Cubs' Jon Lester is pitching, his father, John, is most likely in the garage. When Lester threw a no-hitter on May 19, 2008, for the Red Sox, his dad was in the bedroom watching a movie and wearing headphones, so he couldn't hear his wife's reactions to the game. "I could hear her running down the hallway," the senior Lester said. "She burst into the bedroom and says, 'He didn't give up any hits!' I said, 'What are you talking about?' She said, 'He didn't give up any hits!' I said, 'You mean he pitched a no-hitter?'" John then ran to the television in time to see his son celebrating after the game. "I've never watched him on TV in 10 years," John said. "I guess I could turn the sound off and not listen, but my wife gets very emotional about the game and she's yelling. Usually I'm in the garage or the bedroom, and I can tell the tenor of the game by what her reactions are." Jon -- or Jonathan, as his dad calls him -- knows this. "It's funny, because other than [the no-hitter], he's seen all of my bigger starts of my career -- my debut, my comeback game from being sick, and I think all of my World Series games," Jon said. "That's his deal, and I can't change him. He's still my dad, he still loves me, but it's his quirk as far as watching me pitch." John just gets too nervous. "If it's a World Series game, I won't miss it," John said. "But I normally need some help from people in the form of a beer or two or three during the game to calm me down." He's now seen his son pitch in three World Series: 2007 and '13 with the Red Sox, and last year with the Cubs. How did he handle Game 7 of the World Series last year? "That was so nerve-racking," John said. "I was watching [Jon] more than anything out in the bullpen warming up. I was getting nervous by the minute." John didn't want to be an overbearing "stage dad," so he didn't coach his son. He created an area in the garage where Jon could hit, using a blanket as netting, and they would play catch in the backyard of their Tacoma, Wash., home. "I caught him until he started throwing too hard," John said. "Then I told him he had to find somebody else." The Lesters can tell great fish stories. John is convinced that if Jon, 33, wasn't pitching, he'd be a competitive fisherman. John was introduced to fishing by his father, Rex, who passed away in January at the age of 95.

"He could remember going through Columbus, Ga., through Fort Benning, and he'd say, 'There was this rock here and we turned here and went fishing,'" Jon said of his grandfather. "If you went down there and found the rock, you'd find the fishing hole. His memory for stuff was unbelievable." Rex was left-handed and taught Jon how to play golf. Jon's oldest son Hudson's middle name is Rex after his granddad. Something else Rex and John passed down was the importance of treating people with respect. "I remember [my dad] harping on how your handshake as a man is so important," Jon said. "I've tried to instill that in my boys, as well as just being respectful to people. I think that gets lost nowadays with some young guys. Just because of what you do for a living or who you are, that doesn't make you better than anybody else. You still need to respect people and treat people with respect. "That was probably the police officer in [my dad] coming out," Jon said of his father, who served in the Air Force and the National Guard. "I try to make sure my kids say please and thank you and talk to people when they're spoken to. That's a big part of how I was raised." Hudson turns 7 at the end of July, and he's been learning how to fish from his grandfather on Lester's 1,500-acre farm, located about 15 miles southwest of Atlanta. "I get to see my dad teach my kids how to fish the way he taught me," Jon said. "That's fun to see, and it's cool for me, because I get to teach [my dad] stuff about hunting. Me and Hudson filmed [my dad] shooting his first buck. That was cool to do. It's probably how I'll feel when Hudson shoots his first deer." There is another connection father and son have: cancer. Jon was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2006, and 18 months later, his father found out he had it, too. "He had hernia surgery, and luckily the doctor who was doing the surgery cared about more than just doing the procedure," Jon said. "I found out Opening Day of '08 that he was diagnosed. He went into remission and was almost five years removed, and then it came back. "His is very different from mine. He waited about a year after it was rediagnosed and it grew, so he's like, 'I'll start treatment again.' Hopefully it goes away. Hopefully they find a cure." Someone once asked the senior Lester which was harder: learning he had cancer or that his son did. "There's no comparison," John said. "When they tell you your kid has cancer, it hits you like a ton of bricks -- not that I took mine jumping up and down. It doesn't compare when they tell you that your son has it. It's something you think about all the time." What John is most proud of is how his son has handled all the success he's had in the Major Leagues. "He got into baseball, and he's done well and it hasn't gone to his head," John said. "I think he will miss baseball when he finally retires, but I don't think it's his life. To him, family and that farm and being able to do things like that are more important than pitching, which I'm proud of him for. He's got his priorities straight." That's a perfect gift on Father's Day. -- Cubs.com Maddon on hand to dedicate HIP playground By Carrie Muskat Cubs manager Joe Maddon went home to Hazleton, Pa., on Thursday to open a playground as part of his Hazleton Integration Project.

"Back in the day, the playground system here in Hazleton was really vibrant," Maddon said at the dedication ceremony. "I know there has to be parental concern, but there has to be a way to get them outside and interact, and a playground is a great place to start. "I'm all about technology, don't get me wrong -- but we have to get the kids off their devices and get them into the sunshine, encourage interaction, get them to socialize," he said. "It's such an important component to being a human being." The Hazleton Integration Project is a community-based effort that seeks to unite the people of different cultures who call the Pennsylvania town home. The main focus of HIP is to sustain a community center geared at economically disadvantaged youth and adults. Maddon took advantage of the off-day on Thursday to go to Hazleton to see his mother, Beanie, and take part in ribbon cutting for the playground at the Hazleton One Center. "I haven't been home this time of year in a long time," Maddon said. "It's nice to get back and feel the Pennsylvania summer, especially to be here for this opening. Hopefully, this will be such a positive experience for the kids that we can build another one and another one. "The bottom line is that kids do not get outside enough, they do not participate enough," he said. "Let's get them in a setting such as this where they can have face-to-face conversations." -- Cubs.com Cubs, Bucs to honor Negro Leagues on Friday By Carrie Muskat When the Cubs and Pirates meet on Friday at PNC Park, they will celebrate the Pirates' annual "Negro Leagues Heritage Game." To mark the occasion, the Pirates will wear throwback uniforms honoring the Homestead Grays while the Cubs' uniforms will honor the Leland Giants. The Cubs' uniform selection commemorates a three-game series between the Cubs and Leland Giants played in October 1909, which was the first time the Cubs played an African-American team. Baseball historian Ed Hartig says former player Frank Leland organized, managed and owned several African-American teams in Chicago, beginning in the late 1880s. In 1901, Leland merged two teams, the Chicago Unions and Columbia Giants, to form the Chicago Union Giants, one of the top Negro teams in the Midwest. In 1905, Leland renamed the team the Leland Giants, and two years later, he hired Andrew "Rube" Foster to replace him as manager. In addition to playing exhibition and barnstorming games, the Leland Giants played in the Chicago Baseball League in 1909 and won the city's integrated semi-pro league championship by seven games with a 31-9 record. After the 1909 season ended, the Cubs and Leland Giants played a three-game exhibition series in October. The Cubs swept the series, winning 4-1 on Oct. 18, 6-5 on Oct. 21, and 1-0 on Oct. 22. The games were played on the north side of Chicago at Gunther Park, a 5,000-seat park at 4701 North Ashland Avenue, where Chase Park is located now at Ashland and Leland Avenues. Mordecai Brown picked up complete-game wins in the first and third games for the Cubs, driving in the only run in the final game, which was a pitchers' duel with Charles "Pat" Dougherty. Chicago Cubs with Negro Leagues connections: Outfielder George Altman: Kansas City Monarchs 1955; Cubs 1959-62, 1965-67

Shortstop Gene Baker: Kansas City Monarchs 1948-50; Cubs 1953-57 Shortstop/First baseman Ernie Banks: Kansas City Monarchs 1950 and '53; Cubs 1953-71 Catcher/First baseman Mike Gonzalez: Cuban Stars 1911-14; Cubs 1925-29 Outfielder Monte Irvin: Newark Eagles 1937-42, 1945-48; Cubs 1956 Outfielder Lou Johnson: Kansas City Monarchs 1955; Cubs 1960 and '68 Pitcher Sam Jones: Homestead Grays, Cleveland Buckeyes 1946-48; Cubs 1955-56 Shortstop Luis Marquez: New York Black Yankees, Baltimore Elite Giants, Homestead Grays 1945-48; Cubs 1954 Banks was the first African-American to play for the Cubs, making his debut on Sept. 17, 1953. Baker, who had been in the Cubs system since '50, likely would have been first, but he was sidelined with an injury and did not play his first Major League game until three days after Banks on Sept. 20, 1953. Buck O'Neil, who played for the Memphis Red Sox and Kansas City Monarchs from 1937-55, was the first African-American coach in Major League history, joining the Cubs' staff from 1962-65. He also was a longtime scout for the Cubs and was instrumental in several players signing with the team, including future Hall of Famer Billy Williams. According to Hartig, there were at least 26 games involving Negro Leagues teams played at Wrigley Field between 1942-45. About a dozen Negro Leagues teams played at least one game at Wrigley Field, led by the Memphis Red Sox (11 games), Kansas City Monarchs (10) and Birmingham Black Barons (six). Others to play at Wrigley include the Cincinnati Ethiopian Clowns, New York Cubans, St. Louis Stars, Newark Eagles and Washington Homestead Grays. -- ESPNChicago.com Intense, humble ... sexy? How Kris Bryant's teammates describe the MVP By Jesse Rogers Rookie of the Year. MVP. Superstar. World champion. Sometimes it feels like we're running out of words to describe Kris Bryant. Even when Bryant struggles -- as he did in Wednesday's loss to the Mets -- his teammates know his inherent nature won't keep him down. We went to the players who see him every day and asked them for one word that fits best and that even keel trait came up the most, along with some answers that might surprise you. Here's what they had to say: Joe Maddon Metronome: “He has the same beat every day." Justin Grimm Humble: “It’s one thing I like about him. He goes about his business, it doesn’t matter how well he’s doing. He always remains the same guy. You don’t see that a lot in this game nowadays. He doesn’t lose where he came from.” Jake Arrieta Sexy: “Everything he does is sexy. Him on the field, he makes the game look easy. Day games, he’s got the shades on. Looks good in the box, looks good on the field. Looks like a big-leaguer. Off the field, he’s just a sexy dude.” Carl Edwards Quiet Assassin: “OK, that’s two words. He’s quiet, then goes out and crushes you.” Mike Montgomery

Steady: “He always stays in his routine, and he never really gets too emotional or too low on himself. It’s consistent. He’s talented, of course, but that’s what stands out to me more than his talent. I think that’s what makes him great. It takes a lot more than just talent to be at the level he’s at. It’s fun to be around for sure.” Jon Jay Competitor: “He doesn’t take a pitch off -- on offense or defense. He wants to make every play. Even in the outfield. His at-bats, he’s ready to do damage on every single pitch. He doesn’t give away at-bats at all.” Ian Happ Consistent: “His routine and demeanor is the same every day. He doesn’t get too high or too low. It’s the toughest in this sport. He does a very good job of that. That’s why he’s one of the best players in the league.” Eddie Butler Intense: “You watch the shenanigans that go on around here, especially with the loud music, guys are having a lot of fun, and he’s just locked in. He’s out there ready for every at-bat, every play. He’s super intense.” Kyle Hendricks Composed: “A lot of words come to mind, but that one stood out for me. It’s his game and personality. Everything. Every time I see him, he’s composed. Publicly or even in the clubhouse with no one else around he’s that same guy. Composed.” Albert Almora Humble: “Nothing goes to his head. He hasn’t changed since the day I met him. Minor leagues, big leagues. He hasn’t changed. We all know how good he is on the field, but I feel like people still don’t know how good he is off the field. It’s unbelievable.” Miguel Montero Humble: “Down-to-earth kid. All the talent in the world, and what’s impressed me the most is when things go good for him, he’s up here [puts hand up high], when things don’t go well he’s still up here. I like his attitude, professionalism, work ethic. You never think he’s an MVP guy. He’s so humble. We need guys like him more.” Willson Contreras Beast: “The way he plays and cares about things shows me everything. He’s so quiet but once he goes out there he’s one of the best. He grinds every at-bat. He grinds playing defense. Off the field, he’s a model. He’s a beast.” --