October 27, 2015

CSNChicago.com, Will Cubs double down with another Jon Lester-level megadeal? http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/will-cubs-double-down-another-jon-lester-level-megadeal

CSNChicago.com, Kris Bryant named Sporting News' NL Rookie of the Year http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/kris-bryant-named-sporting-news-nl-rookie-year

CSNChicago.com, Now healthy, Cubs' Clayton Richard optimistic about future http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/now-healthy-cubs-clayton-richard-optimistic-about-future

Chicago Sun-Times, Anthony Rizzo's season is over but his charity work never ends http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/1045739/anthony-rizzos-season-charity-work-never-ends

Chicago Sun-Times, It's time for Joe Maddon to make the magician disappear http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/1046010/joe-maddon-time-make-magician-disappear

Chicago Sun-Times, Kris Bryant voted Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year by players http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/7/71/1045790/kris-bryant-voted-sporting-news-nl-rookie-year-players

Daily Herald, Imrem: For fans, there's no pain like Chicago Cubs pain http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20151026/sports/151029055/

Cubs.com, Cubs cruise beyond expectations in magical '15 http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/155510490/cubs-surpass-expectations-in-impressive-2015

Cubs.com, With key additions, Cubs' 2016 looks promising http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/155512382/cubs-2016-should-be-bright-with-added-depth

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs 2015 final report card: They met their match in the Mets http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/13976564/chicago-cubs-2015-final-report-card

-- CSNChicago.com Will Cubs double down with another Jon Lester-level megadeal? By Patrick Mooney When the Jordan Zimmermann trade rumors surfaced last offseason, there was a thought that he would set the meter at whatever Jon Lester got and leave it running.

The Washington Nationals talked extension and also took out an insurance policy against Zimmermann leaving, investing $210 million in Max Scherzer and preparing for their homegrown starter to sign somewhere else as a free agent. Since the Cubs are big Zimmermann fans, do they double down on that six-year, $155 million contract and offer something in Lester’s neighborhood? Does it make sense to go to the top of the market and try to put together a Scherzer-level megadeal for David Price? And with all the uncertainty surrounding the team’s financial picture — at least in terms of how much of those new/postseason revenue streams will flow into baseball operations — it’s at least worth asking: Should the Cubs diversify their roster and not have such a top-heavy feel? The Cubs know they can’t stay this healthy or be that lucky in 2016. Realistically, there are no ready-for-impact pitchers in the minor-league pipeline, the biggest arms years away from potentially contributing. This is also the time to be aggressive, because that window to contend will slam shut faster than you think. That win-now mentality could also mean building a trade for pitching around someone like Starlin Castro, Javier Baez or Jorge Soler. Theo Epstein seemed to leave all options on the table during last week’s end-of-season news conference at Wrigley Field, where the team president looked ahead to a winter that could define his administration. “The topic sentence is we would like to add more quality pitching,” Epstein said after watching Kyle Hendricks and Jason Hammel start Games 3 and 4 of a National League Championship Series the New York Mets led from start to finish. Money talks, but the Cubs won’t have to sell a marquee free agent like Zimmermann or Price on a hope-and-change message, the blueprints for a renovated Wrigley Field and that group of blue-chip prospects. Wrigleyville is under construction, guys want to play for Joe Maddon (though the manager’s pajama trips aren’t for everyone) and Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell are now playoff-tested. “Nobody expected us to be here,” Lester said after the Cubs got swept out of the NLCS. “Everybody just expected us to compete and be a part of something that was a step in the right direction. Now we’ve kind of put a stamp on that step (and) we’ve made believers out of people.” The Cubs won 101 games after Opening Night, when the Cubs had bathroom issues, the Wrigley Field bleachers hadn’t opened yet, Lester still felt the aftereffects from a “dead arm” in spring training and ESPN highlighted the lefty’s issues throwing to first base and controlling the running game. Whoever joins the Cubs in 2016 won’t have the benefit of a training-wheels season or the goodwill generated during an out-of-nowhere playoff run. “Now these guys (in the clubhouse) know,” Lester said. “These guys have seen it. They’ve been there. I don’t know if they ever knew they could do it. Now they know they can. I think stuff like this makes you want it more. You get to this point and (the Mets) pushed us aside. “Maybe that means next year we’ll show up with the belief of winning and not the what-ifs of winning. Guys (should) have a little more swagger and go out and try to do the exact same thing. Hopefully, we’re not short at this point.” Coming off two straight All-Star seasons where he showed up in the Cy Young Award voting, Zimmermann (13-10, 3.66 ERA) didn’t have the greatest walk year for an underachieving Nationals team that won only 83 games and got manager Matt Williams fired.

But Zimmermann still made 33 starts and topped 200 innings — showing the headstrong attitude the Cubs would appreciate — and he won’t turn 30 until the middle of next season. Zimmermann is a self-made pitcher who came out of a Division III program — the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point — and still keeps a home in Wisconsin. The Nationals actually drafted Zimmermann with the 67th overall pick in the 2007 draft — a selection that had been part of the compensation package for the Cubs signing Alfonso Soriano. Zimmermann is right-handed and had Tommy John surgery near the end of the 2009 season. The Cubs believe lefties typically age better and Lester (two World Series rings) also has more playoff experience than Zimmermann (12-plus postseason innings). Lester wants another chance to show he’s a big-game pitcher after losing both of his playoff starts this October. But the Cubs have no regrets after Year 1 — 11-12, 3.34 ERA, 207 strikeouts in 205 innings — and would do the Lester deal all over again. Epstein said the Cubs would be fishing in those waters again this winter. “You can fool people through the season and win games,” Lester said. “This is where you get exposed. And this is where you figure out how to truly win. We did it (through two rounds). We came up a little short (in the NLCS). But that’s only going to make us better. “Hopefully, we get another chance at this and guys will come into spring training even more hungry. They know how to win now. They know how to compete, day in and day out. Guys will come in now and expect to be in this position.” -- CSNChicago.com Kris Bryant named Sporting News' NL Rookie of the Year By Mark Strotman The accolades are about to begin pouring in for Kris Bryant, and Monday he earned his first of what should be a few postseason awards. The Sporting News named Bryant the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year, as voted on by a panel of 167 National League players. Bryant received a whopping 127 votes, beating out San Francisco's Matt Duffy (22) and Pittsburgh's Jung Ho Kang (5) for the award. Fellow Cubs rookie Kyle Schwarber received two votes. Bryant is the sixth Cubs rookie to earn the Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year, joining Billy Williams (1961), Ken Hubbs (1962), Mark Grace (1988), Kerry Wood (1998) and Geovany Soto (2008). The No. 2 pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, Bryant hit .275 with 26 homers and 99 RBI's in his first year with the Cubs. He hit just .176 in the postseason, but did hit two home runs and drive in five RBI's. -- CSNChicago.com Now healthy, Cubs' Clayton Richard optimistic about future By Dan Hayes

Clayton Richard is optimistic about his future and until recently it had been a while since he experienced similar confidence. With his health intact for the first time in two offseasons, Richard likes his chances of earning a big league job in 2016, though the pitcher wouldn’t mind if he stayed put with the Cubs. Richard — who produced 4 2/3 scoreless innings in the playoffs after he went 4-2 with a 3.83 ERA in 42 1/3 innings — was just as confident during a turbulent period this summer when the Cubs twice designated him for assignment. Even though his future was uncertain, Richard, 31, knew he was healthy and likely to get a chance somewhere. Turns out the Cubs ultimately would give him that opportunity and benefitted from their decision. Now, after two offseasons of ambiguity and injury, the Lafayette, Ind.-native is excited about his prospects this winter. “Having been through the health issues, that puts things in perspective,” Richard said. “I kind of look back and put myself where I was a year and a half ago, it’s pretty special. I’m excited to be here now and looking forward to the future.” A future is something Richard wasn’t certain he’d ever have again. He had his first surgery in June 2013 to shave parts of his left clavicle to avoid future difficulties with his AC joint. But that didn’t end his issues. The following February, Richard had surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition that can cause numbness in the fingers and pain in the shoulder, arm and neck. He was able to pitch again by August and posted a 6.75 ERA in four minor league games for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Last offseason, Richard signed a minor-league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He appeared in his first game at Single-A Bradenton on May 7 was immediately promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he went 4-2 with a 3.21 ERA in nine starts. In need of starting pitching depth, the Cubs acquired Richard from Pittsburgh in July for cash. He won his first start on July 4 but posted a 5.40 ERA through 15 innings before the Cubs DFA’d him on July 22. The Cubs brought him back for another start on Aug. 2 and he won, allowing a run in six innings. But in need of room, Richard was designated again the next day. Still, he didn’t worry about his future. “I knew I was healthy and I was going to be playing and no matter where I went I was going to be able to prove that I could be a contributor at the big league level,” Richard said. When he returned again on Aug. 12, Richard moved to the bullpen and it looks like the move could stick. With a four-seam fastball that averaged between 93-95 mph from mid-August through October, Richard posted a 3.38 ERA over 19 appearances. He followed it up with the 4 2/3 scoreless innings in relief in the postseason. “It took a little bit of time (to adjust) but it wasn’t terrible,” Richard said. “At the end of the day its getting loose and executing pitches and we were able to do that.” Richard played a key role for Joe Maddon down the stretch and he may fit in the bullpen again next season. A former 14-game winner, the left-hander has one more season left until he becomes a free agent, which means the ball is in the team’s court. Though he was disappointed by the team’s loss in the National League Championship Series, Richard could see past the disappointment to realize what had transpired. He’s also excited about the team’s future and his own.

“It’s a special team and I hope that doesn’t get lost in the loss,” Richard said. “It’s a special young team that did big things for this city and the organization and it has a bright future. But you don’t want to just dismiss what happened this year. It was a special year and I hope people recognize that and appreciate it for what it is and then when the time comes look forward to the future.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Anthony Rizzo's season is over but his charity work never ends By Kyle Thele Few athletes are more connected or involved with a cause than Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is with his Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. Rizzo’s foundation helps children and their families battling cancer. The young All-Star is hosting his fourth annual Walk-Off For Cancer event next month in his home state of Florida. The family friendly 5K walk will be Nov. 15 in Parkland, FL. According to the Foundation’s website, Rizzo will be in attendance along with other special guest appearances. The net proceeds raised will benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Florida, along with the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Family Reach and directly to families battling cancer. Rizzo, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 18, has been very hands on with his charity. He’s not only closely involved with the big events, but Rizzo regularly visited the Lurie Children’s Hospital throughout the year. -- Chicago Sun-Times It's time for Joe Maddon to make the magician disappear By Rick Morrissey The Cubs might have won 97 games and gotten to the National League Championship Series, but they have a lot of work to do. They have to address the thinness of their starting rotation. They have to find a position for Kyle Schwarber and teach him how to play it at a major-league level. They have to decide whom they’re willing to trade to acquire more talent. Important stuff, all of it. So what I’m about to suggest now is decidedly toward the bottom of the to-do list. On the other hand, I can’t help myself. Joe Maddon needs some new material. It didn’t get much attention in the aftermath of the Cubs’ season-ending loss to the Mets in Game 4 of the NLCS, but earlier that day, the Cubs manager had brought in the magician who had made such a splash with the team in late June. After Simon Winthrop’s previous performance, Maddon had credited him with lightening the mood of the clubhouse and helping the team dispose of a five-game losing streak. Bringing him back for Game 4 of the NLCS had a whiff of desperation to it. It didn’t reach Greek-priest levels of ridiculousness, but it did move the needle on the hokey meter. So, some new motivational gimmicks to replace the magician, the petting zoo and the players dressing up in onesies for a flight home are necessary. Time to refill Maddon’s bag of tricks for next season.

My suggestion to entertain the troops would be a sports columnist dunk tank. Or Theo Epstein and Crane Kenney in a baseball side-business side cage match, with the winner getting to set the player payroll. Or a Jane Austen read-a-thon, just to see the look on Jon Lester’s face. Now it’s your turn. I eagerly await your recommendations. -- Chicago Sun-Times Kris Bryant voted Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year by players By Kyle Thele Each year since 1946, Sporting News has handed out their awards to the best players through the MLB regular season. After his outstanding year, Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant has been named the NL Rookie Player of the Year. Unlike the MVP or Cy Young award, Sporting News’ award winners are selected by a panel of 167 players from each league. Those players selected Bryant by a wide margin over any other rookie, receiving more than 75 percent of the votes. VOTING RESULTS Kris Bryant, Cubs — 127 Matt Duffy, Giants — 22 Jung Ho Kang, Pirates — 5 Joc Pederson, Dodgers — 3 Kyle Schwarber, Cubs — 3 Maikel Franco, Phillies — 2 Chris Heston, Giants — 2 Other — 3 Bryant played in all but 11 games for the Cubs this season, eight of which came before he was called up to the big league team. On the year, Bryant hit .275 in the regular season with 99 RBI and 26 home runs. Bryant was named to the NL All-Star team this season and participated, albeit briefly, in the home run derby. He set franchise records for both home runs and RBI in a rookie season. Bryant joins the likes of Billy Williams, Ken Hubbs, Mark Grace, Kerry Wood and Geovany Soto as fellow winners of the Sporting News award. -- Daily Herald Imrem: For fans, there's no pain like Chicago Cubs pain By Mike Imrem As another World Series commences Tuesday night without the Chicago Cubs, let's reflect on something said before the first pitch of this postseason. The status of Cubs fans as kings and queens of pain -- sports category only, of course -- was challenged by actor Jeff Daniels of all people. The comment was so insulting that Cubs fans might want to boycott Daniels' current movies, "Steve Jobs" and "The Martian."

Daniels, who grew up in Michigan, was bemoaning the Lions' bizarre loss at Seattle on Oct. 5's edition of "Monday Night Football." "You feel cursed," the Detroit Free Press quoted Daniels as saying on ESPN. "It's just painful." Then came the blockbuster misconception, misconceived as if Daniels woke up in a tub of Jack Daniel's. "I don't care what the Cubs fans say," Daniels added, "this is more painful." How dare he! Nobody has suffered more sports-induced emotional distress than a Cubs fan over the years, decades, more than a century, myriad generations, countless lifetimes. Nobody else's team has been more futile. Nobody else's has been the butt of more jokes. Nobody else's has been patronized as lovable losers. However, Daniels' point is well-taken in one respect: The Cubs are the gold standard for sports trauma. That tradition is the burden every Cubs team has carried since the franchise last played in the World Series in 1945 and last won one in 1908. The Lions weren't even founded 107 years ago. Nor was the NFL. Back then a football still was a whole pig -- ears included -- rather than merely a slab of skin. The thing about Cubs fans is that they incur periodic spells of convenient amnesia that enables them to experience periodic spells of convenient hope. This autumn was an example. The 2015 Cubs had fans believing this year would be the elusive "next year" they have been waiting for. The feeling was that this was going to be different from the black cat of 1969 and Gatorade glove of 1984 and Bartman ball of 2003. Uh, no, sorry, not yet. No curse was necessary this time unless you want to count the "Curse of the 'Back to the Future II' Prediction that the Cubs Would Win the World Series in 2015" curse. Despite all the historic close calls, the Cubs simply haven't been able to win a pennant in 70 years or a World Series in 107 years. Chicago sports franchises overall make a habit of going long stretches without winning championships. The Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls and White Sox have endured their own. But even in this town, the Cubs blow away all other gaps between titles. A sports franchise has to almost try to go 107 and 70 like the Cubs have. So Jeff Daniels must be channeling his character in "Dumb and Dumber" if he is comparing the Lions to the Cubs. Now the Cubs' drought is supposed to end sooner than later -- next year or the year after or surely no later than the year after that -- as Tom Ricketts, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer remake and update everything associated with the franchise. Still, the Cubs will have to turn promise into production and production into a pennant and a pennant into a World Series championship.

If the Cubs ever do that, Jeff Daniels will be able to moan about the agony of being a long-suffering Lions fan. In the meantime, the Cubs will remain the gold standard for sports suffering and Jeff Daniels will remain that guy from "Dumb and Dumber." -- Cubs.com Cubs cruise beyond expectations in magical '15 By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- In February, just before Joe Maddon held his first team meeting, the Cubs' manager said his only expectations for the 2015 season were that his team get to the playoffs. That was a high expectation for a team that was coming off a last-place finish in the National League Central. "I do not like playoff baseball beginning and I'm in the backyard cooking steaks," Maddon said at the time. "I want everybody else cooking steaks when we're in the playoffs in October." This year, Maddon and the Cubs delayed their barbecues until late October, winning 97 games and a Wild Card berth. En route, they posted 13 crazy walk-off wins, watched rookies arrive and thrive and saw Jake Arrieta emerge as a force with a no-hitter at Dodger Stadium and a Major League-leading 22 wins. They upended the powerful Cardinals in the National League Division Series, but the magical season ended when the Mets swept the Cubs in the NL Championship Series. "The lesson to be learned here now is that they've learned how to win this season," Maddon said. "They've learned how to win at the Major League level. They were participating in the playoffs, with only four teams left, which is pretty impressive at their point of development. For me, at this point, it's been one big positive." The Cubs had lots of fun along the way to the final four, beginning with a disc jockey in Spring Training and including a magician in New York, a pajama party in Los Angeles and zoo animals at Wrigley Field. The 2015 season was supposed to be another step in the development of the kids. Guess what? They were ready, and Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell, Javier Baez and Jorge Soler grew up before Cubs fans' eyes. "I think we're in a place nobody expected us to be, and I think we can be proud of that," Bryant said after the last NLCS game. "We were four wins away from going to the World Series, and a lot of people didn't really expect us to be here." Well, Maddon did. Here's a review of the wild ride in 2015. Record: 97-65, third place, NL Central, Wild Card Defining moment: The defending-champion Giants came to Wrigley Field on Aug. 6-9, and the young Cubs posted a four-game sweep, with the rookies driving in 16 of the 22 runs scored. In the first game, Schwarber smacked a three-run homer in the second in a 5-4 victory, which moved Chicago a half-game ahead of San Francisco in the Wild Card race. Schwarber hit a two-run tie-breaking single and Soler added a two-run double the next day to back Jon Lester in a 7-3 win. The next day, it was Bryant's turn as he hit a two-run homer and drove in another run in an 8-6 win. Arrieta capped the series, combining with Justin Grimm and Hector Rondon on a seven-hit shutout. Bryant and Russell each drove in a run. This series was also key because Maddon benched three-time All-Star Starlin Castro in the second game, opting to move Russell to short. Castro did rally, switching to second base, and led the NL with a .426 batting average in September.

What went right: The kids could play. A leading candidate for NL Rookie of the Year, Bryant led Major League rookies in several offensive categories, including home runs (26), RBIs (99), doubles (31), and runs (87) and was second in walks (77). Schwarber was promoted from Double-A Tennessee in June to be the designated hitter in Interleague games, then came up to stay after the All-Star break. He ranked among the NL leaders in home runs in the second half with 15, and he set a franchise record for most home runs in the postseason with five. Russell was stellar at second, then really shined when he was moved to shortstop. Injuries slowed Soler in the regular season, but he batted .474 in the postseason with three homers, three doubles and five RBIs. What went wrong: Not much, until the Cubs had to face the Mets in the NLCS and were outscored, 21-8. Chicago batted .236 with runners in scoring position, which ranked 14th in the NL. Cubs pitchers did rank third in the NL in ERA, but they had a tough time filling the fifth spot in the rotation. Jason Hammel had a rough second half (5.10 ERA in 14 starts). Biggest surprise: Schwarber, 22, made it look easy in his first big league start on June 17 against the Indians, going 4-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs. In fact, the Middletown, Ohio, native did his best in his home state, and he was a combined 17-for-36 (.472) with three homers, a triple, a double and nine RBIs in nine games at Cleveland and at Cincinnati. He became a cult hero with his monster home runs, including his NLDS blast that landed on top of the right-field video board. Hitter of the Year: Anthony Rizzo became the sixth left-handed hitter in Major League history to reach 94 runs, 38 doubles, 31 homers, 101 RBIs, 78 walks and 17 stolen bases, joining Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Larry Walker and Bobby Abreu. The first baseman played 160 games, and batted .278 and showed off his glovework as well. Nothing, not even a rolled up tarp, would get in his way. Pitcher of the Year: Arrieta led the Major Leagues with a career-high 22 wins and threw the 14th no-hitter in franchise history on Aug. 30 against the Dodgers. His 1.77 ERA was the lowest for a Cubs qualifying starter in 96 years. He's only the fifth pitcher with at least 22 wins, no more than six losses and an ERA under 2.00 since the ERA became an official stat in 1912 in the NL. His second half was mind boggling as he compiled a 0.75 ERA and went 12-1 in 15 starts. That's the lowest ERA for any pitcher from Aug. 1 through season's end since ERA became an official stat. He also is the first Major League pitcher ever to finish the year with 20 consecutive quality starts. And Arrieta didn't stop there, throwing a complete-game shutout at PNC Park in the NL Wild Card Game to beat the Pirates. Rookie of the Year: See "what went right" regarding Bryant, 23. The third baseman totaled 17 game-winning RBIs. Since the turn of the century, only two others have done so in their rookie seasons: Albert Pujols in 2001 and Hideki Matsui in '03. And he finished the year well, hitting a two-run homer in his last at-bat in the NLCS against the Mets. Add his two homers and five RBIs in the postseason, and Bryant finished with 28 homers and 104 RBIs in his first year. Not a bad start. Honorable mention to Schwarber for his performance in the second half. -- Cubs.com With key additions, Cubs' 2016 looks promising By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- The future is bright for the Cubs. Joe Maddon will be back in 2016. The rookies won't be rookies anymore, and they now have postseason experience on their resumes. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein doesn't expect complacency, but rather feels the players will be even more motivated when they report to Mesa, Ariz., in February. "They're going to come back extremely hungry and extremely focused and in great shape and take it to the next level," Epstein said the day after the Cubs were eliminated in the National League Championship Series by the Mets. There are a few holes to fill. The Cubs will be looking for versatile players, which will give them more depth, and for at least one more quality starting pitcher this offseason.

Chicago won 97 games and had the third-best record in the Major Leagues, yet the club finished third in its division. The Cardinals and Pirates, who finished ahead of the Cubs, will re-load for next year. "It's an incredibly competitive landscape in the NL, and that motivates us," Epstein said. "With what's going on in the NL, it's a better approach to say that in order to compete with our teams in our division, we have to attain a really high standard. We have to put ourselves in a position with the chance to be great." Maddon is the sixth Cubs manager to take the team to the postseason in his first year at the helm. Playing in October will help enforce his teaching points in Spring Training. "Guys who have never been through [the playoffs] before, and you talk about the little minutiae, it doesn't really resonate with them sometimes," Maddon said. "Now, having gone through this, getting the bunt down, hitting the cutoff man, being in the right position, whatever, it's an easier sell." The Cubs could only watch as the Mets celebrated at Wrigley Field when they won the NL pennant. Next year, they want to be spraying champagne. Arbitration-eligible: RHP Jake Arrieta, LHP Travis Wood, RHP Pedro Strop, OF Chris Coghlan, RHP Hector Rondon and RHP Justin Grimm. Free agents: OF Dexter Fowler, OF Austin Jackson, RHP Fernando Rodney, RHP Tommy Hunter, RHP Jason Motte, OF Chris Denorfia, LHP Clayton Richard and IF Jonathan Herrera. Rotation: The Cubs' starters ranked third in the NL in ERA, and Arrieta, Jon Lester, Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks return. But they will be in the market for additional starters, either through free agency or trade. "We want to continue to add impact pitching," Epstein said. "We want to continue to add starting pitching depth at the big league level." Bullpen: Closer Rondon finished strong, posting a 1.10 ERA in the second half, and the Cubs just need to sort out the rest of the bullpen. Strop and Grimm will be back, and the Cubs are hoping Neil Ramirez can contribute as a set-up man. Wood began the season in the rotation, but the lefty thrived in relief, posting a 2.95 ERA. Where he fits is to be determined. The Cubs may give right-hander Trevor Cahill and Richard another look after both provided key relief in the second half. Catcher: The Cubs were happy with Miguel Montero's first half, but a thumb injury may have hindered the veteran in after the All-Star break. Rookie Kyle Schwarber will continue to work on his catching but could see games in the outfield to keep his bat in the lineup. The Cubs recognize most catchers need three to four years in the Minors. "When the alternative is sticking that kind of bat in the Minor Leagues until he's Johnny Bench defensively, I like the imperfect path," Epstein said. David Ross will be back, too. First base: The good news is Anthony Rizzo was able to be the ironman on the team, playing in 160 games. Chicago may try to add someone on the bench who can give Rizzo, 26, a breather now and then. He somehow played that many games despite being hit by a pitch a Major League-leading 30 times. Second base: Remember when the 2015 season began? Tommy La Stella and Arismendy Alcantara were sharing second, but La Stella got hurt and Alcantara struggled. Rookie Addison Russell was promoted, and despite being a natural shortstop, he was asked to learn second at the big league level. Russell handled the transition well, but then Maddon made a key in-season move, switching Russell to short. Starlin Castro eventually took over at second, and he shined in the move. Who starts on Opening Day 2016? It could be Castro. Third base: Kris Bryant started 10 games in the outfield, and he may be considered a better fit there, but he would prefer third base. He finished with a .951 fielding percentage, eighth best in the NL. Maddon likes having moveable parts, so Javier Baez could sub at third if needed.

Shortstop: This is Russell's best spot. In his first season, he led the team and ranked seventh in the NL in pitches per plate appearance, a solid achievement for a 21-year-old. He also batted 33 points higher in the second half than the first. Russell will only get better. Outfield: The Cubs are hoping Jorge Soler can stay healthy for a full season to patrol right, and they'll insert Schwarber in left to keep his bat in the lineup. The Cubs' other option is Coghlan, who batted .317 in June but hit .219 in July. Center field needs to be filled if Fowler opts to leave via free agency. Fowler ranked fourth in the NL with a career-high 102 runs scored and called the Cubs "the best group of guys I've been around." Is that enough for him to return? -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs 2015 final report card: They met their match in the Mets By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- Report cards are out, and the consensus is the Chicago Cubs had a very good year at school. These grades are based on everything from expectations to role to experience/age to attitude in the clubhouse. The playoffs count, but they're only a small percent of the overall grade. MANAGEMENT Front Office – Grade B- This might look like a harsh grade considering the 97-win season, but we're only talking about 2015 -- not the drafts and trades that preceded it. As it turns out, Dan Haren and Tommy Hunter were underwhelming trade-deadline acquisitions, though Austin Jackson was helpful. Considering Jason Hammel was injured just before the All-Star break, it gave the Cubs even more reason to make a bigger move. Still, most of this insight is in hindsight, so you can't come down too hard on them. Who knew they would need another starter for a best-of-seven series? Offseason acquisitions Jonathan Herrera and Chris Denorfia served roles, and the additions of Clayton Richard and Trevor Cahill were useful as well. Jon Lester and Dexter Fowler helped the Cubs to the playoffs, but Jason Motte had mixed results. It's that trade deadline that stands out. Manager Joe Maddon – Grade A Navigating a young team into a seventh month of baseball with four rookies playing such a prominent role should win Joe Maddon the NL Manager of the Year Award. Forget the gimmicks, the man simply knows how to communicate and get the best out of players. That's No.1 on any manager's wish list. STARTING PITCHERS Jon Lester – Grade B- Lester's second-half performance improved, and so did his grade from midyear (C+), but that doesn't mean his was a stellar season. Forget the stolen base totals -- which did hurt him at times, including the postseason -- Lester's numbers from start to finish needed to be better. They were fine for the American League, but coming to the NL, he needed his ERA (3.34) to drop lower than his career average. But the biggest issue was putting his team behind too much with a 4.50 ERA in the first inning. He would even tell you: He didn't keep his team in enough games. Jake Arrieta – Grade A All right, the playoffs have to count for something, so instead of an A+, Arrieta gets an A. But let's face it -- Arrieta had the greatest second half of any pitcher we've ever seen. There's little doubt he hit a wall after the wild-card game, but that's not his fault, as he was in tip-top shape. The Cubs counted on him for so much, and he delivered.

Jason Hammel – Grade C His midseason A- takes a hit for obvious reasons: A 5.10 second-half ERA. Even if his hamstring injury suffered near the All-Star break was a factor, he still struggled all the way through the end of the season, which included a brutal four-out performance in the season's final game. Kyle Hendricks – Grade B- It's clear he's suited as a No. 5 on a good team but was pitching as a No. 4, so taken with everything else, he did all right. His ERA dipped below 4, raising his grade above a C. He was reliable down the stretch in the same way Hammel was not. That's worth something as well. Dan Haren – Grade C Haren's last few starts saved him, as he began his Cubs career giving up home runs all over the place. It didn't help that he was acquired right when the weather turned in the hitters' favor -- not exactly a benefit for a fly-ball pitcher. He's a class act all the way. RELIEF PITCHERS Justin Grimm – Grade B His second-half ERA (2.67) was more than twice as high as his first-half mark, but his grade didn't go down because he still got some big outs, striking out four in two clean innings in the playoffs. He had more walks in the second half despite fewer innings pitched, which left him as a question mark heading into the postseason, but he came through. Travis Wood – Grade B+ We can throw out his nine starts and just judge him on being a reliever, which means he was really good -- allowing just 43 hits in 58 innings pitched. Hector Rondon – Grade A- He gets overlooked. It's not easy to close games -- especially without nail-biting ninth innings. He didn't have many on his way to a 30-save season -- in 34 chances -- and a 1.67 ERA. It's early, but he's on his way to being one of the better Rule 5 picks in recent memory. Pedro Strop – Grade B- I would love to give him a higher grade -- some might think he deserves lower -- as he gave up only 39 hits in 68 innings, but 46 percent of inherited runners scored on him. That won't fly for a high-leverage reliever. He had a WHIP of 1.00 and an ERA of 2.91. He can't do worse than a C+ with those numbers, right? Jason Motte – Grade C+ His drop in production and then injury didn't do his second half any favors. If any two players' win/loss record was misleading its Strop's and Motte's. The former went 2-6, the latter 8-1 -- but Motte's ERA and WHIP were both considerably higher. Trevor Cahill – Grade B+ He was on his way to an A, but that third consecutive curveball in the dirt in Game 3 against the Mets was a killer, allowing the eventual winning run to cross the plate. He gave up seven hits in 5 1/3 innings in the playoffs but no walks. And his 11 appearances in the regular season for the Cubs were really good.

CATCHERS Miguel Montero – Grade B- A difficult player to grade, Montero ranked fourth in home runs in the NL and fifth in on-base percentage for catchers, but there were some underwhelming moments on defense, as runners stole successfully 80 percent of the time. And that was without catching Lester. He was middle of the pack in many other defensive metrics. David Ross – Grade B- Say what you want about his batting average (.143); Ross wasn't signed to hit. If Maddon gets credit for bringing along the young players, why shouldn't Ross? He was a coach in a player's uniform. Think of him that way, and you won't spit out your coffee at a B-level grade. He also had only 159 at-bats -- hardly a large enough number to cause a ruckus. INFIELDERS Anthony Rizzo – Grade A If we're downgrading Arrieta from an A+ to an A because of the postseason, then I suppose I have to do the same with Rizzo, though his home run in Game 4 against the Cardinals was big. He hit .188 in 32 postseason at-bats, but he was fantastic in the regular season, where he'll finish in the top five of MVP voting. Starlin Castro – Grade B That's about the best .265 year you'll see out of a hitter who raised his average nearly 20 points in the second half of the season. And seldom talked about was his ability not to strike out, as many around him put up huge whiff totals. His positive attitude after getting benched helped raise his midseason grade from a D. Addison Russell – Grade B+ His 29 doubles and 13 home runs get overlooked by his stellar defense and so-so on-base percentage (.307). The latter statistic can and will improve, but his midseason swing changes brought even more pop. Just think what those offensive numbers could look like with more seasoning. Kris Bryant – Grade A- Another player who faltered some in the playoffs, Bryant will win Rookie of the Year going away after a 26-home-run and 99-RBI campaign. If he improves just a little on defense, he can play third base or the outfield and not hurt you. He was reliable, clutch and mature. All expected traits, but still amazing for his age and experience. Tommy La Stella – Grade B He proved to be valuable as a pinch hitter and spot starter. And he provides something different than a home run bat. He was also the toughest to strikeout in limited at-bats after an oblique injury sidelined him for most of the season. Javier Baez – Grade B Considering where he was to begin the season -- banished to the minors -- Baez came a long way. He made much-needed adjustments at the plate while keeping his reputation as a slick fielder, though he had a moment or two in the postseason that weren't stellar. Still, he took to third base well and made more contact than anyone expected. OUTFIELDERS Kyle Schwarber – Grade A-

The fact that the ball found him in left field in the NLCS shouldn't be any sort of lasting memory for him, especially considering he became the Cubs' all-time postseason home run leader one year removed from college. It's not like people were complaining about his defense that much before the postseason. The team took off in the second half at the same time he was called up, and remember: He spent less time in the minors than Bryant, Russell or Soler. His bat is the real deal. Dexter Fowler – Grade B- He improved big time in the second half, setting a career high in walks and home runs -- along with strikeouts. It was a strange year in that regard, as Fowler seemed to start every game with a base on balls or a strikeout. His .346 on-base percentage for the season was decent enough considering his first half but still well below his career average coming into the season. Jorge Soler – Grade B He was on his way to a solid C, but then came the division playoffs, where he set a record by getting on base in his first nine plate appearances. His keen eye returned, as did his power. And his 34 percent line-drive percentage bodes well for the future even though he hit only .262 and got on base 32 percent of the time in 2015. Chris Coghlan – Grade B He faded some in the second half while his strikeout percentage increased, though he continued to take his walks while setting a career high in home runs and getting on base a respectable 34 percent of the time. Chris Denorfia – Grade B He hit .324 as a pinch hitter, which is probably the best way to judge him. He was adequate on defense while providing a clubhouse presence, which few outside the organization talked about. Austin Jackson – Grade C+ He wasn't brought in to be an answer to any problem, though he helped the outfield defense late in games. His .304 on-base percentage and 29 strikeouts in 72 at-bats were nothing to write home about. --