May 17, 2017

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon’s faith in struggling Cubs rewarded with offensive outbreak http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-reds-spt-0517-20170516-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Could the spectacular (and erratic) Javier Baez be the Cubs' odd man? http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-javier-baez-trade-knowles-spt-0517-20170516-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs facing adversity for first time as World Series champions http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-cubs-sullivan-spt-0517-20170516-column.html

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon reflects on his 1,000th victory with a glass of 'Big Smooth' http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-joe-maddon-victory-20170516-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Kris Bryant relieved to return after brief bout of pneumonia http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-notes-cubs-reds-spt-0517-20170516-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs put down the whine, raise a glass of the good stuff after victory http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-put-down-the-whine-raise-a-glass-of-the-good-stuff-after-victory/

Chicago Sun-Times, Patience over performance as Cubs brass awaits ‘catalytic’ conversion http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/patience-over-performance-as-cubs-brass-awaits-catalytic-conversion/

Chicago Sun-Times, Homer Sweet Homer for Cubs’ Ian Happ in Wrigley Field debut http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/homer-sweet-homer-for-cubs-ian-happ-in-wrigley-field-debut/

Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs turn up the heat in Maddon's 1,000th win http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170516/chicago-cubs-turn-up-the-heat-in-maddons-1000th-win

Daily Herald, Rozner: Chicago Cubs' confidence on the uptick at Wrigley http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170516/rozner-chicago-cubsx2019-confidence-on-the-uptick-at-wrigley

Daily Herald, Cubs' Epstein: 'If anyone wants to sell their Kyle Schwarber stock, we're buying' http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170516/cubsx2019-epstein-x2018if-anyone-wants-to-sell-their-kyle-schwarber-stock-wex2019re-buyingx2019

Cubs.com, Cubs hit 4 HRs, lift Maddon to milestone win http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/230597806/cubs-hit-4-homers-to-beat-reds-at-wrigley/

Cubs.com, Cubs toast Maddon after signature victory http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/230723230/cubs-players-toast-joe-maddons-1000th-win/

Cubs.com, Happy at home, Cubs out to lock up series http://atmlb.com/2pWrzer

Cubs.com, Ain't it grand? Maddon records 1,000th win http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/230692762/cubs-manager-joe-maddon-records-1000th-win/

Cubs.com, Epstein calls for calm as Cubs find footing http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/230611584/cubs-not-panicking-during-slow-start-to-season/

Cubs.com, Bryant back as injured Cubs make strides http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/230615172/cubs-kris-bryant-returns-to-lineup/

ESPNChicago.com, What gets laid-back Wade Davis' adrenaline flowing? http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/44175/what-gets-laid-back-wade-davis-adrenaline-flowing

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs' Ian Happ steals spotlight from manager Joe Maddon http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/44187/cubs-ian-happ-steals-spotlight-from-manager-joe-maddon

ESPNChicago.com, Theo Epstein not worried about Cubs' record http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19399748/theo-epstein-not-worried-cubs-record

CSNChicago.com, Looking Like He Belongs, Ian Happ Sparks Cubs In Win Over Reds http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/looking-he-belongs-ian-happ-sparks-cubs-win-over-reds

CSNChicago.com, Breaking Down The Trade Market And Jake Arrieta As Cubs Preach Patience With Pitching http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/breaking-down-trade-market-and-jake-arrieta-cubs-preach-patience-pitching

CSNChicago.com, Theo Epstein's Message From Cubs: 'If Anyone Wants To Sell Their Kyle Schwarber Stock, We're Buying' http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/theo-epsteins-message-cubs-if-anyone-wants-sell-their-kyle-schwarber-stock-were-buying

-- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon’s faith in struggling Cubs rewarded with offensive outbreak By Mark Gonzales Before Joe Maddon earned his 1,000th victory Tuesday night, the Cubs’ manager reiterated his faith in his young lineup and the rest of a team that has experienced some malaise in the wake of their 2016 World Series title. Maddon’s faith was rewarded when Kyle Schwarber snapped out of an 0-for-17 slump with a home run and Ian Happ also homered in his Wrigley Field debut as the Cubs rolled to a 9-5 victory over the Reds. Maddon celebrated with a glass of red wine labeled “Big Smooth” as he thanked everyone from his players to his coaches from his youth football days in Hazleton, Penn., to his current bosses and coaching staff. “He’s well deserving,” said Schwarber, who has been the center of debate as Maddon has stuck with him at the leadoff spot. “He’s a great manager, a great one to play for.” Maddon’s faith in Happ, who was promoted to the majors last week, paid off when Happ batted cleanup for the first time and drew two walks, including a bases-loaded pass in the sixth, in addition to his solo shot in the sixth. “He’s already in (the lineup Wednesday night),” Maddon smiled. “That wasn’t difficult.” Temperatures in the mid-80s and a 20 mph wind blowing toward center field helped the Cubs during a four home run attack that gave plenty of cushion to an appreciative John Lackey. He admittedly didn’t like pitching under the warm and windy conditions but did well enough to earn his third victory in his last four starts.

Maddon, who waited nearly four months after Addison Russell’s promotion in 2015 to start him at shortstop in place of Starlin Castro, vows to remain patient with his group this season. “With this group, it would have to take a lot (to make changes), honestly, because they’re so young and this is our group, a World Series group and our future group,” he said. “Part of it you have to understand they have to feel confident and consistency from me and the organization. When you start haphazardly picking names out of a hat and trying to create a different method when it’s not really necessary, that’s what you have to be careful about.” Schwarber was grateful for Maddon’s faith as he collected his second multiple-hit game since April 24. “It’s all a process,” Schwarber said. “At times it’s good to kind of fail because you know what it’s like to get out of it. And I’m still learning every day. “Baseball throws me different things every day. And for (Tuesday), you have to learn and not to change anything and stick with the process that is working.” The Cubs doubled their hit total with runners in scoring position in the first inning from last weekend’s 1-for-14 performance, as Jeimer Candelario and Willson Contreras contributed run-scoring hits. It didn’t hurt that 2016 National League Most Valuable Player Kris Bryant returned after missing three games with illness and smacked an RBI double during a two-run sixth. Meanwhile, Happ relished his first game at Wrigley. “It was awesome,” Happ said. “The fans and the energy in the stadium was awesome.” -- Chicago Tribune Could the spectacular (and erratic) Javier Baez be the Cubs' odd man? By Joe Knowles Eventually — inevitably — somebody has to go. The Cubs have a wealth of young position players and a dearth of young pitchers. They readily acknowledge this imbalance and have pledged to address it. The best way to accomplish that goal, in the short term, is via the trade market. But the price for a quality pitcher, especially a starting pitcher, will be steep. If the Cubs covet a Chris Archer or a Johnny Cueto or even a Sonny Gray, they will need to put together a package of two or three players, including a top prospect or a current major-leaguer or both. So who gets traded? It might have to be Javier Baez, the spectacular but erratic middle infielder whose value may never be higher than it is right now. Before Cubs fans start foaming at the mouth over the thought of trading the National League Championship Series co-MVP, let's calmly and unemotionally go down the list of possible trade chips on the roster and in the system. Let's assume cornerstones Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are untouchable. The same goes for Jason Heyward (largely because of his contract) and, yes, Kyle Schwarber. The Cubs seem enamored of Schwarber's bat and his character, despite his early-season struggles, and it's easy to see why. Left-handed power hitters are among the game's most precious commodities.

You probably can put Addison Russell, a 23-year-old shortstop who already has a 95-RBI season on his resume, in the untouchable category too. Willson Contreras? Even though he's hitting in the low .200s this year, it's hard to see the Cubs dealing him. Catchers with his combination of skills are rare. Contreras, 25, came up as a third baseman and played a fair share of outfield last season, which adds to his value. He would be tough to replace, though the Cubs do have switch-hitting Victor Caratini, 23, waiting in Triple A. Through Monday, Caratini was hitting .339 with three homers and 26 RBIs in 34 games. Caratini also can play first and third base. Albert Almora Jr.? The first draft pick of the Theo Epstein era, Almora is still only 23. He hasn't even had 200 at-bats at the big-league level, so it's hard to project what kind of offensive player he will become. His defense, however, is unquestionably top-rate. Almora might not be 100 percent untouchable, but you get the feeling the Cubs would be loathe to let him go. Among the prospects, there's 20-year-old outfielder Eloy Jimenez, the top-ranked minor-league player in the Cubs' system. He's still in advanced Class A after tearing up low Class A last season (.329, 14 HR, 81 RBIs in 112 games with South Bend in the Midwest League). Is Jimenez untouchable? Well, the Cubs did give up former No. 1 prospect Gleyber Torres in the Aroldis Chapman deal, so precedent exists. But do you see them making that kind of move again, now that the World Series drought is behind them? Me neither. The easy answer is to deal someone like Ian Happ or Jeimer Candelario, both of whom seem just about ready to play every day at the big-league level. Happ is a switch-hitting second baseman-outfielder, kind of a Ben Zobrist on training wheels. Candelario, also a switch hitter, can play either corner infield position. So let's say it comes down to a package that includes at least one of these three players: Baez, Happ or Candelario. Whom could the Cubs most afford to lose, and just as significantly, who would bring the most in return? Cubs' Theo Epstein: 'If anyone wants to sell their Kyle Schwarber stock, we're buying' Cubs president Theo Epstein remains positive about Kyle Schwarber. (Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune) As switch hitters, Happ and Candelario have added value, especially to a lineup juggler like Joe Maddon. Both are more disciplined hitters than Baez, based on their career numbers to date: If you value discipline and the ability to draw walks — and the Cubs do — Baez just doesn't measure up. Baez probably has a slight edge over Happ in power and a larger one over Candelario. Defensively, Happ seems best suited to the outfield. Candelario projects as an average defender at third or first. Baez can play pretty much anywhere, including shortstop, which is a huge plus. It's a tough call. Despite his occasionally aggravating habits — chasing bad pitches, making inexplicable errors — Baez still could be the best of the bunch, but that means he likely would bring the most in return. If Baez were to be traded, Happ could slot into the lineup as a second baseman-outfielder, swapping spots with Zobrist. Candelario could be the backup to Bryant and Rizzo, getting occasional starts at third while Bryant plays the outfield. A backup shortstop would need to be found. The trade market is not unlike the stock market. The time to sell is when the perceived value is at its peak. You could make the argument that the time to trade Baez was last offseason. In some ways, Baez is Starlin Castro — a gifted but flawed player who was moved to second base after being deemed unworthy of displacing Russell as the everyday shortstop. Castro wound up getting traded to the Yankees for Adam Warren, who wound up getting traded back to the Yankees in the aforementioned Chapman deal. Which basically meant the Cubs gave Castro away for nothing. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice … well, you know the rest.

-- Chicago Tribune Cubs facing adversity for first time as World Series champions By Paul Sullivan The question has been lingering in the air this month like a batting practice fastball, thanks to last year's memorable team slogan. Do the Cubs suck? "Depends on whatever your definition of suck is," Anthony Rizzo said. The dictionary definition of the slang word is "to be objectionable or inadequate." In many previous years, hanging around the .500 mark in mid-May was simply par for the course. Judging the Cubs by those standards, the answer is no. Now that they are World Series champions and vying for a repeat, .500 is objectionable, to say the least. That's the reality of the situation, one the Cubs never envisioned they would be in when they spent spring training hearing everyone tell them how great they were. Then they got a ring with a goat on it, and it hasn't been the same since. Before Tuesday night's 9-5 victory over the Reds on a balmy night at Wrigley Field, the Cubs were 13th in runs scored, 16th in on-base percentage and 20th in starting pitching. Last year they were third, second and first, respectively, in those three categories. It hasn't been one player, but most of the team. Heck, even the ones who left — Dexter Fowler, Travis Wood, Jorge Soler, Aroldis Chapman and others — were either struggling, injured or both. The only overachiever has been David Ross, and he's no longer playing. "If people want to sell low on the Cubs, sell their stock, we'll buy," President Theo Epstein said. Epstein added he didn't want to "sound like I'm blind to what's going on," but denied the Cubs are complacent or lack a sense of urgency because they're champs. He urged fans to have faith in the players and faith in the team. "When it's really time to worry is when there is infighting, and for whatever reason there is some doubt about whether guys are going to face adversity the right way, and work hard to make adjustments and stay together," Epstein said. "If you have the talent, and guys care and are willing to work hard and fight through adversity, then it puts you in a position to be patient." Patience in Kyle Schwarber, whom Epstein said is not going to be sent to the minors. Patience in the starters, whom Epstein said are coming around. And patience in a lineup full of young players who are all going through this funk at the same time. Epstein scoffed at the idea the Cubs would be a seller at the trade deadline. It was the scoff of someone who had scoffed a time or two with the Red Sox. Naturally, talent usually rises to the top. But we've seen some very talented Cubs teams fail, including in 1985 when the entire rotation was injured, and in 2004, when the players fought with the media, umpires and broadcasters Steve Stone and Chip Caray, ultimately blowing a wild-card lead in a catastrophic final week. These Cubs don't seem like they're having as much fun as last year's model, which could be traced to the departure of Fowler and the retirement of Ross. Or maybe the lack of extracurricular wackiness because the World Series — no pajama trips, magicians or animals — has affected their esprit de corps.

"Sometimes when you get caught up in a situation like this, the glare in your face all the time, you're playing every night, and there are a lot of high expectations, whatever, I think you still can be happy," manager Joe Maddon said. "But sometimes, some of these things, if you don't control it properly, can subtract some of the fun. I can speak for myself. Yeah, I'm having a lot of fun. But I want them to also." Maddon repeated his "stay (in the) today" mantra, which he admitted is "psychobabble … but it's true." Schwarber was getting the most heat, with some demanding he be removed from the No. 1 spot. "Everyone keeps asking me questions about the leadoff spot," Schwarber said. "It doesn't bother me at all." After grounding to first on a 82 mph sinker from Bronson Arroyo in the first, Schwarber blasted a 1-0 change-up for a 462-foot homer in the second. He wound up 2-for-5 on the night. Maddon repeatedly has backed Schwarber and doesn't seem inclined to move him down in the order. As for sending him down to Triple-A Iowa, Epstein said he's "not close to that at all." "I can see why (people) say that," Schwarber said. "But I just have to keep going with it, knowing things are going to change. It's tough to be in that spot." No one said it would be easy. Oh, wait, we all said that. Our bad. -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon reflects on his 1,000th victory with a glass of 'Big Smooth' By Mark Gonzales After winning his 1,000th game as a major league manager, Joe Maddon reflected on the players who helped him reach this milestone as well as his coaches, from his midget football leaders in Hazleton, Pa., to his current Cubs coaching staff. Maddon, 63, never reached above the Class-A level as a catcher, which he believed might have hurt his chances to manage in the majors. But he stuck with a formula that he believed would pay off some day. “With 10 years as a major league coach, at some point, had to equal one at-bat in the big leagues,” Maddon said late Tuesday night after becoming the eighth active manager to reach the 1,000-win mark. “That was my personal equation, that I thought eventually if I spent 10 years as a coach, somebody may give me the opportunity.” Maddon actually started coaching in the majors in 1994 but wasn’t hired as a manager on a full-time basis until 2006 with the Tampa Bay Rays, which helped his beliefs mesh with what he described as “new wave” methods instituted by management. “And we still do,” Maddon said after taking a swig of “Big Smooth,” a Lodi, Calif.-based wine. “At that time, I was part of the group that was at the forefront of a lot of it, which really helped that group get a lot (better) than a lot had expected.” It was more accelerated than the mid-1990s, when Maddon started using a laptop that he said weighed 25 pounds.

“And I used to get made fun of. But it started with that thought, and breaking down of stats in a rudimentary way where now it’s done for you. “I’m looking forward to the next step back to the dark ages.” Maddon believed the consistent theme from his first victory as interim manager of the Angels in 1996 to now has been keeping a simple game plan. “It wasn’t confusing back then, meaning players didn’t go out there with a lot of thoughts in their head,” Maddon said. Maddon also stressed the willingness to take a chance and not get stuck in traditional methods. “Fortune does favor the bold,” Maddon said. “I’m more convinced of that than ever. Tell me what you think, not what you’ve heard. Those are the kind of concepts I believe in. That’s why I don’t get bogged down with a lot of stuff that is said. “I think regurgitation is a big part of our society, and I prefer the big thinkers.” John Lackey, who has known Maddon since he was a rookie in 2002 and Maddon was the bench coach for the Angels, wasn’t surprised by Maddon’s ascent. “He always had a great mind for the game and always was easy to talk to,” said Lackey, who has the distinction of being the winning pitcher for Maddon’s 1,000th victory. “A lot of guys bounced things off him to see what (Mike) Scioscia was thinking. You could tell that he was going to be a manager someday.” Maddon escaped without a celebratory beer shower, but Lackey plans to make up for that oversight soon. “We’ll give it to him,” Lackey said. “We’ll give him whatever he needs, for sure.” In the meantime, Maddon announced after the game that his Respect 90 Foundation will donate 1,000 meals to the needy in Chicago and 1,000 meals in the Tampa area. “Anytime you can impact that part of society, it’s always a good thing,” Maddon said. -- Chicago Tribune Kris Bryant relieved to return after brief bout of pneumonia By Mark Gonzales Kris Bryant describes Denver as "awesome," but the Cubs slugger said he always has felt ill there in some way dating back to his travel ball days. Bryant revealed Tuesday that the early signs of pneumonia that caused him to miss the entire Cardinals series started last Wednesday in Denver when the Cubs were completing their series with the Rockies. "It always was something," said Bryant, who was relieved he underwent tests shortly after pulling himself out of the lineup minutes before Friday's game. Bryant, who returned Tuesday night to the Cubs lineup, said he has been building up strength steadily and felt well enough to start. Bryant said it was hard to balance his desire to play over the weekend but knew he could hurt his team if he tried.

At the same time, Bryant was impressed his teammates kept their composure despite losing two of three games to the Cardinals and producing only one hit in 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position during the series. "It would be easy to break a bat or put a hole in the wall," Bryant said. "But nobody here is doing that. For me to sit back and watch it, these guys are true professionals. "Ultimately when you act that way, you get paid back in big ways." Heyward on hold: Outfielder Jason Heyward said his right index finger didn't feel 100 percent even though he looked good during his first round of batting practice in which he sprayed the field with line drives. Manager Joe Maddon remained encouraged that Heyward, who sported protective tape on his right index finger, could return at the end of the week. Heyward looked sharp as he maintained the stance he revamped last winter. "I want to put it through everything I need to put it through at this point to see how I feel and how it responds," Heyward said before hitting. "Quality over quantity." Extra innings: Pitching coach Chris Bosio left to attend a personal matter. Bullpen coach Lester Strode took over Bosio's duties. ... Team doctors examined Triple-A Iowa left-hander Rob Zastryzny after he experienced tightness in his lat muscle after four batters Monday. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs put down the whine, raise a glass of the good stuff after victory By Gordon Wittenmyer Cubs manager Joe Maddon brought a generous-sized glass of “Big Smooth” red wine to his postgame media briefing Tuesday night, then raised the glass above the microphone. “Cheers,” said the man who toasted both the Cubs’ 9-5 victory over the Reds and his 1,000th win as a manager. Four Cubs home runs and a bend-but-not-break start from John Lackey on a warm, windblown hitters’ night provided a game worth breaking out the wine and putting a cork in the whine. It was just the Cubs’ third victory in 10 games and pushed their record back to .500. “This is a strong test for us,” struggling first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “We can go one of two ways.” Rizzo, who went 2-for-16 on last week’s road trip, took advantage of the conditions Tuesday to drive a hit off the wall in left in his first at-bat and one over the wall in right in his last (drawing an intentional walk in between). Maddon thanked his players, coaches and bosses for his 1,000th win. “He always had a great mind for the game,” said Lackey (4-3), who first knew Maddon as a bench coach with the Angels when Lackey was a rookie. “You could definitely tell he was probably going to be a manager someday.” Lackey pitched into the sixth inning with a 5-3 lead. And for the fourth consecutive Lackey start, the Cubs won. The only thing that matters now is what comes next. “There’s no panic,” president Theo Epstein said. “But there’s also a lot of guys in there that care about playing up to our capabilities. That’s one of the reasons I have so much trust in this group and a lot of confidence that we’re going to get it straightened out.”

-- Chicago Sun-Times Patience over performance as Cubs brass awaits ‘catalytic’ conversion By Gordon Wittenmyer Cubs manager Joe Maddon and president Theo Epstein don’t expect Kyle Schwarber to go anywhere. Not down in the order anytime soon, and definitely not to Class AAA Iowa. Whether that continues to include his infrequent visits to first base, the larger point is that patience has outperformed the players six weeks into the season, whether it’s about Schwarber or anyone else. As the Cubs took a losing record into the opener of a 10-game homestand Tuesday, the starting rotation’s ERA and lineup’s average and OPS all ranked in the lower third in the majors. Only the Padres had allowed more unearned runs. The Cubs, however, have no intention of becoming one of those “surprise sellers” early trade-market speculators are talking about, Epstein said. Despite having the team’s lowest average and one of the lowest on-base percentages of any leadoff man in the game, Schwarber hit a home run in the second inning off Reds starter Bronson Arroyo in the Cubs’ 9-5 victory Tuesday. “Anyone wants to sell their Kyle Schwarber stock, we’re buying,” Epstein said before the game. “Same applies to the team. If people want to sell low on the Cubs, sell their stock, we’ll buy.” The front office continues to have faith in Schwarber and the rest of a young team that’s barely six months removed from a World Series championship. “With this group it would take a lot [to start shuffling positions or lineup spots],” Maddon said, “because they’re so young. And this is our World Series group, and this is our future group. They have to feel confidence and consistency from me and the organization.” On Tuesday, rookie switch hitters Ian Happ (in his third big-league game) and Jeimer Candelario (in his 11th) were batting fourth and fifth, respectively. Kris Bryant was back after missing three games with a stomach bug. Jason Heyward (jammed finger) and Ben Zobrist (back) still were sidelined. Epstein isn’t making excuses, but he is calling out anyone who wants to read potential staying power in the Cubs’ rough start, no matter how real the starting pitching and fielding issues have looked. “Remember, right around this time last year we were 25-6, and I was getting asked non-sarcastic questions about how we were going to manage the push for the greatest record of all-time vs. resting our guys for the playoffs,” he said. “I called b.s. on that. And now I’m getting asked about if we’re going to send everyday guys down to AAA, and I was asked by someone else if we’re going to consider selling. I called b.s. on that, too.” For now, patience. “You don’t know when it’s going to happen,” Epstein said. “I hope it’s tonight, and we have a great home-stand and we get really hot. But you never quite know where the bottom is. You never quite know what catalytic event is going to turn things around. I don’t want to sound like I’m blind to what’s going on or sort of overly faithful in certain guys. But we make out evaluations. And you continue to keep your eyes open and make adjustments on individuals and teams, but you also have to trust what you believe about players and what you see.” --

Chicago Sun-Times Homer Sweet Homer for Cubs’ Ian Happ in Wrigley Field debut By Gordon Wittenmyer Another day in the big leagues, another big hit for Ian Happ. His opposite-field homer to left in the fifth inning Tuesday against the Reds was his second homer in three games in the majors. Happ, who started in center field, also walked while batting cleanup. Happ homered and walked in his debut, and doubled and singled in his second game Sunday. “When you call someone up you always have plans in pencil, nothing’s ever written in ink,” president Theo Epstein said of the No. 9 overall pick in the 2015 draft. “He’s feeling great at the plate right now. He tends to be streaky, so when he’s on a hot streak its really hot and it lasts a long time.” Epstein says Happ might get an extended stay because of his ability to play all outfield positions and at least second base in the infield. “We weren’t anticipating an extremely long-term stay, but we’re going to read and react based on how he plays,” Epstein said, “and what’s going on with the other guys with their health.” Schwarber vote of confidence Epstein seemed dismissive when asked about a possible demotion to the minors for struggling leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber, who entered Tuesday’s game with a .179 average, .313 on-base percentage and a team-high 44 strikeouts. How long would a slump have to last to consider such a move for Schwarber? “When we feel like that’s the right thing for him and the team, and when we think he’s not giving himself a chance out there,” Epstein said. “And we don’t think he’s close to that at all. “If you look at his at-bats lately, there’s still somewhere he’s missing heaters that he normally clobbers, but there was a ton of hard contact this weekend [in St. Louis]. And I think he’s really close.” Heyward close? Right fielder Jason Heyward (jammed finger) took batting practice Tuesday, which put him on track for a possible return from the disabled list by Friday’s series opener against the Brewers. “Needles are pointing in the proper direction,” Maddon said. “He’s feeling really good.” Notes Outfielder Jon Jay, who was pulled from a start Friday because of back spasms, was feeling better and available off the bench. • Ben Zobrist, who has played through back pain much of the season, also was good enough to play, Maddon said, but “still not 100 percent. I just want to be very careful with him.” --

Daily Herald Chicago Cubs turn up the heat in Maddon's 1,000th win By Bruce Miles What you see at Wrigley Field these days are Theo Epstein's Cubs and Joe Maddon's Cubs. There no doubt will be a trade or two before the July 31 deadline, but as of now the brass is sticking with its boys. Those boys helped Maddon to his 1,000th victory as a major-league manager Tuesday night with a 9-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at warm and windy Wrigley Field. "To the players who have been a part of this, thank you," said Maddon, who enjoyed a glass of red wine during his postgame news conference. Maddon said his Respect 90 foundation would donate 1,000 meals in Chicago and Tampa Bay (where he managed the Rays) to commemorate the milestone. The Cubs, who had been struggling, improved to 19-19. "This is our World Series group, and this is our future group," Maddon said before the game. "Part of it is you have to understand they have to feel confidence and consistency from me and the organization. You just don't start haphazardly picking names out of a hat or trying to create a different method when it's really not necessary." Team president Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer both were on-field visitors before the game as the Cubs returned from a road trip on which they went 2-4. On the last part of the trip, in St. Louis, the Cubs played without Jason Heyward (disabled list), Kris Bryant (illness) and, for the most part, Jon Jay (back spasms) and Ben Zobrist (back tightness). Things no doubt have been tough for the Cubs as they continually live in the shadow of last year's 25-6 start on the way to a world championship. "I think our guys have a great mindset," Epstein said. "They're a little bit frustrated as anyone would be with how we're playing. They have a lot of heart. They really care. "I think they know how good they can be, and they want to attain that level. There's no lack of urgency. There's no complacency because we won last year. We're also confident of what we can and will do once guys hit their stride. If someone wants to sell low on the Cubs, sell their stock, we'll buy." With a gametime temperature of 87 degrees and a wind of 20 mph blowing straight out, Tuesday promised to be the hitter's night it delivered. "I think warmer weather, hotter bats," said Bryant. The Reds got solo homers from Zack Cozart and Tucker Barnhart in each of the first 2 innings against John Lackey (4-3), but the Cubs scored 3 in the first and 1 in the second against veteran Bronson Arroyo. Kyle Schwarber, one of the Cubs who has been struggling, crushed a solo homer to right-center in the second. The ball traveled 462 feet. Rookie Ian Happ hit his second homer of the season in the fifth, and the Cubs added 2 more in the sixth before Joey Votto brought the Reds within 7-5 with a 2-run shot in the seventh off Koji Uehara. Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo added late solo homers for the Cubs. -- Daily Herald Rozner: Chicago Cubs' confidence on the uptick at Wrigley By Barry Rozner Off the field, the Chicago Cubs were completely prepared for what was to occur Tuesday night at Wrigley Field.

Manager Joe Maddon calmly answered the same pregame questions he's been asked for the last couple weeks. Team president Theo Epstein appeared on the field and waited for the media to surround him. And GM Jed Hoyer was leaning on the dugout fence watching a spirited group of players dance to the music and prepare for batting practice, Hoyer unable to hold back a smile as he peered into the distance -- and maybe the future -- when talking about what he believed was about to happen. "Given how talented our roster is, and given that some guys have struggled, you know their numbers will be great by the end of the year, so I think it's actually a reason to be optimistic," Hoyer said. "If this was a stock, I think it's a good time to buy. We're due to get hot, due to play better baseball. "There's no excuses. Everyone plays the same schedule. But it's been a difficult schedule and there have been some challenges. "Now, we're starting a homestand with some warm weather and I think we'll get things going." After scoring 6 runs in three games over the weekend in St. Louis, the Cubs had it all in front of them Tuesday night at home, with temps near 90 degrees and a strong wind blowing straight out of the southwest, not to mention 40-year-old Reds starter Bronson Arroyo and his 5.94 ERA. Not that there wasn't trepidation. No, when you've played as much ugly baseball as the Cubs have this season, there is still that concern that the defense or pitching could let them down. But on a night made for hitting, they needed a game in which the Cubs' bats started looking like Cubs' bats again. Nevertheless, the Cubs' front office expected the panic that is palpable in the streets. "Remember, right around this time last year, we were 25-6 and I was getting asked non-sarcastic questions about how were we going to manage the push for the greatest record of all time versus resting our guys for the playoffs," Epstein said. "I called B.S. on that, and now I'm getting asked if we're going to send everyday guys down to Triple-A." Oh, but it's much worse than that. "Not by you guys, but I was asked by someone else if we're going to consider selling," Epstein said. "I call B.S. on that, too." Selling? Really? "Ultimately, you are how you play over the course of a season, but you also have to look at the amount of talent on a club and whether you trust their makeup and whether they care," Epstein said. "We haven't played anywhere near up to our capabilities, so we're presented with some adversity, and we get the chance now to make some adjustments and overcome that. "In the long run, it's going to be good for us." There's little doubt that the last two months of 2015, combined with a little more than five months of absurd play a year ago, has warped all sense of reality. Baseball is simply not that easy, though Cubs fans have come to expect it. "I've never had a season like that, a double-digit lead an entire season," Hoyer said. "Normally, there's anxiety, there's bad spells, there's several tough stretches.

"We had three bad weeks before the break last year. That was it. That season is an anomaly. "I think there would be more concern if we were performing to expectations and struggling, but I have zero concern. If anything, there's excitement because I know we're about to get hot." The Cubs' bats did start to warm with the weather Tuesday night, Willson Contreras hitting one to dead center and into the vines to drive in a pair in the first and Kyle Schwarber blasting a monster shot out to right-center in the second. It was 4-3 Cubs in the fifth when Ian Happ popped a lazy fly to left that went out for his second big-league homer, and his sixth time on the bases in his first 11 major-league at-bats. John Lackey made it into the sixth, having allowed 3 runs on 7 hits with 2 walks, a decent performance given the conditions but nothing like his outing in Colorado last week. With the Reds climbing back to within 7-5 in the seventh, Addison Russell hit his first home run in a month in the bottom of the inning, and Anthony Rizzo added one in the eighth, giving the Cubs 4 longballs on the night. It marked only fifth time in 38 games the Cubs have scored at least 9 runs, and the first time in 19 games. So while it wasn't perfect night for the home team, you don't have to be perfect when you start scoring runs. The Cubs did that. Might be time to buy. -- Daily Herald Cubs' Epstein: 'If anyone wants to sell their Kyle Schwarber stock, we're buying' By Bruce Miles Cubs president Theo Epstein had a quick answer Tuesday when it came to the question of left fielder Kyle Schwarber. "He hasn't gotten on track yet, but we have no doubts he will," Epstein said. "If anyone wants to sell their Kyle Schwarber stock, we're buying. If they want to sell low, we'll buy low. He's going to have tremendous production at the end of the year. He's going to have a lot of big hits to help us win games. There are a lot of hits out there for the rest of the year." Schwarber entered Tuesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds with a line of .179/.313/.343 with 5 homers and 14 RBI. He has struggled of late, but so have most Cubs hitters. Epstein was even asked whether there was a chance the Cubs would send Schwarber to Class AAA Iowa. "When we feel like that's the right thing for him and the team and when we feel like he's not giving himself a chance up there," he said. "We don't think he's close to that at all. If you look at his ABs lately, there are still some one where he's kind of missing heaters that he normally clobbers. But there was a ton of hard contact this weekend. I think he's really close." Schwarber has been the Cubs' leadoff hitter all year, and there are questions almost daily if he'll be dropped in the lineup. "I feel like I've put in some pretty dang good at-bats lately, and I've got to stay with that mold: hit the ball hard," he said. "The leadoff spot's fine. Everyone keeps asking me the question about the leadoff spot, and it doesn't bother me at all. I'm going to go up there with my same approach and same mentality and go hit the ball hard." Day to Hey:

Right fielder Jason Heyward took batting practice on the field as he tests his right index finger, which he sprained on the last homestand, when he dived for a ball against the Yankees. Heyward was eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday but it's looking like that might not happen until the end of the week. "See how it responds today and go from there," he said. "I'm sure they'll be letting me know some kind of plan, whatever it is." Bryant feeling better: Kris Bryant was back in the lineup after missing the three-game series in St. Louis over the weekend with an illness. "It was an upper-respiratory infection," Bryant said. "They said it was really good I said something, ad I was able to get all the tests done and just get that out of the way. I've never really felt that before. It was new to me." What's the Happ? Theo Epstein was asked whether recently called-up outfielder Ian Happ could remain with the big club long term. "When you call someone up, you always have plans in pencil," Epstein said. "Nothing's ever written in ink. He's feeling great to play right now. He tends to be streaky so when he's on a hot streak and it lasts a long time. He's got a great temperament. He seems comfortable up here already. I think spring training really helped him. His defensive instincts have improved tremendously from when he was in college to where he looks more comfortable at a number of positions now. That allows us to find a spot in the lineup for him more consistently, especially when guys are banged up. "We'll play it by ear, do the appropriate thing for the team and for Ian's development. We weren't anticipating an extremely long-term stay, but we're going to read and react based on how he plays and what's going on with the other guys and their health." -- Cubs.com Cubs hit 4 HRs, lift Maddon to milestone win By Carrie Muskat and John Jackson CHICAGO -- All the Cubs needed was a little home cooking, some summer-like weather, and home runs by Kyle Schwarber, rookie Ian Happ, Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo to get back on track and give manager Joe Maddon a milestone win. Schwarber smacked a 462-foot home run, Happ hit his second homer in three games, Russell led off the seventh with a blast, and Rizzo launched a solo shot in the eighth to lift the Cubs to a 9-5 victory Tuesday night over the Reds and give Maddon his 1,000th career win. It was Chicago's third win in its last 10 games, while Cincinnati lost its fourth in a row. "It was a perfect ending," said Maddon, who raised a glass of red wine during his postgame media session and then was toasted by his players. Maddon is the 63rd manager to reach 1,000 wins, and the eighth active skipper to do so, joining the Giants' Bruce Bochy, the Nationals' Dusty Baker, the Angels' Mike Scioscia, the Orioles' Buck Showalter, the Indians' Terry Francona, the Pirates' Clint Hurdle and the Royals' Ned Yost. "To the players who have been a part of this, I want to say, 'Thank you,'" Maddon said. "You don't do it without the players."

The weather at Wrigley Field was more to Maddon's liking than the last home game, May 7, when it was 43 degrees. A 20-mph southwest wind favored the hitters, and the 87-degree game-time temp made it feel like summer. It also resulted in tough outings for veteran starters John Lackey and Bronson Arroyo of the Cubs and Reds, respectively. Lackey threw 104 pitches over 5 1/3 innings, lasting long enough for the win. "It was a terrible night to pitch, actually," Lackey said. "The wind was blowing out 100 miles an hour, and it was hot." It was a great night to hit as the Cubs belted a season-high four homers. "Anything that kind of caught the jet stream went out," said Happ, the Cubs' No. 2 prospect who was making his Wrigley Field debut. The Reds tried to keep pace in the home run derby as Zack Cozart launched a solo shot with one out in the first, Tucker Barnhart connected with two outs in the second, and Joey Votto hit a two-run blast in the seventh. Barnhart's ball soared 444 feet and landed on the roof of the suite in center field. The Cubs answered Cozart's homer with three runs in the bottom half of the first, capped by Willson Contreras' two-run, ground-rule double. The Reds were never able to catch up. "They scored every inning but two; that's tough," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Our guys kept pushing it. That's one of those games where you score five and you want to have a chance to win it, but it was really hard for us to get close enough. We cut it to two on Joey's home run, and they extend the lead in each of the next two innings." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Kaboom: Maddon has been second-guessed about having Schwarber lead off, but the home run may quiet the critics. Schwarber ended an 0-for-15 skid with his sixth homer of the season in the second inning, launching a changeup from Arroyo to the back row of the right-field bleachers to open a 4-2 lead. It was the longest by a Cubs player this season. "It's all a process," Schwarber said. "At times, it's good to fail because you know what it's like to get out of it. I'm still learning every day. Baseball throws me different things every day. You've got to learn not to change anything and stick with the process and what's been working. It's always rewarding when that happens." Got him: The Cubs led 4-2 when Scott Schebler walked to open the Reds' fourth. Schebler extended his lead at first, but he didn't last long as Contreras fired the ball to first baseman Rizzo to throw the Reds outfielder out. Cincinnati added a run that inning when Jose Peraza doubled, moved up on a groundout and tallied on a wild pitch by Lackey, but getting Schebler averted a possible big inning. QUOTABLE "Sometimes on a day like today, it is who can get the most balls in the air. You don't necessarily want that to be your game plan or your approach. You want to hit the ball hard." -- Price, on the wind "Today was huge for the offense to show up and get their feet on the ground and have some big home runs in our direction. You definitely need some help on a day like this." – Lackey SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS With his third homer of the season, Cozart became the first visiting player to go deep in four straight games at Wrigley Field since Albert Pujols did so in 2007. WHAT'S NEXT

Reds: Scott Feldman will make his first career start against the Cubs on Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. ET. The 34-year-old, who debuted in 2005, has faced every other Major League team. Feldman allowed two runs in seven innings in his last start against the Giants for a no-decision on Friday. Cubs: Kyle Hendricks will make his eighth start of the season on Wednesday. This will be his fourth start at home, where he's still looking for his first win. Opponents are batting .276 against the right-hander at Wrigley Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. -- Cubs.com Cubs toast Maddon after signature victory By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Joe Maddon raised a glass of "Big Smooth" red wine from Lodi, Calif., and toasted his 1,000th win on Tuesday night, a 9-5 Cubs victory over the Reds. "We've all played in Lodi," he said. The Cubs' skipper is the eighth active manager to reach 1,000 wins, joining the Giants' Bruce Bochy, the Nationals' Dusty Baker, the Angels' Mike Scioscia, the Orioles' Buck Showalter, the Indians' Terry Francona, the Pirates' Clint Hurdle and the Royals' Ned Yost. Maddon paid his dues in the Minor Leagues, and tried new concepts, including using a 25-pound laptop computer which everyone made fun of back in what he called "the Dark Ages." He now does his lineups and research on an iPad. "I've been part of a lot of adjustments, new concepts, new items in the game," he said. He credited a long list of coaches with helping him reach the milestone, and, of course, the players. "To the players who have been a part of this, I want to say, 'Thank you,'" he said. "You don't do it without the players." The Cubs players toasted Maddon after Tuesday's game. Pitcher John Lackey, who got the win, was with Maddon when he was a bench coach on the Angels. "He always had a great mind for the game, was easy to talk to," Lackey said. "You could tell he was going to be a manager someday, for sure." What's been the constant over the years? "The consistent part is simplicity," Maddon said. "Simplicity in general, but simple game plans. We're not very confusing. Players didn't go out there with a lot of thoughts in their heads. We did utilize new wave information and still do." To celebrate the feat, Maddon's Respect 90 Foundation will donate 1,000 meals in Chicago and 1,000 in Tampa Bay. "It's well deserved," Chicago's Kyle Schwarber said of 1,000 wins. "He's a great manager, a great one to play for. We know we have his back, and he'll have ours." -- Cubs.com Happy at home, Cubs out to lock up series By John Jackson

At this point in his career, there's not much associated with Major League Baseball that Scott Feldman hasn't experienced. But on Tuesday, the 34-year-old stepped into the cramped visitors' clubhouse in Wrigley Field for the first time. "Yeah, it's impressive," he said with just a hint of sarcasm. Feldman will have another new experience Wednesday night, when he takes the mound for the Reds in the second game of the three-game series -- facing the Cubs for the first time since making his big league debut in 2005. "I guess that's the only team I haven't faced," he said. "I think I've faced all the other ones." He has indeed. Right-hander Kyle Hendricks, who is 3-1 with a 3.91 ERA in eight career starts against Cincinnati, will start for the Cubs, who won the opener after the two clubs combined for seven home runs. Feldman spent part of the 2013 season with the Cubs. He went 7-6 with a 3.46 ERA during one of the lean rebuilding years. Feldman was traded to Baltimore in midseason -- the deal that brought Jake Arrieta to Chicago. "There are not too many guys that I played with that are still on the team," Feldman said. "[Anthony] Rizzo, [Hector] Rondon; that's about it." Things to know about this game • When Kyle Schwarber hit a 462-foot blast with one out in the second inning on Tuesday night, it was the eighth straight game the Cubs have homered against the Reds -- a streak that goes back to Sept. 21 of last season. Overall, the Cubs have homered in 24 of their last 25 games against the Reds. • Batters are 4-for-46 (.087) against Feldman's curveball, the fourth-lowest average for a starter who has had at least 20 at-bats end with a curve or knuckle-curve. Feldman has limited opponents to an average exit velocity of just 78.6 mph on 32 batted balls against his curve. • Hendricks is limiting lefties to a .190 batting average (12-for-63), while righties are hitting .250 (20-for-80). -- Cubs.com Ain't it grand? Maddon records 1,000th win By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- His first big league win came Aug. 21, 1996, at Yankee Stadium. Rookie Derek Jeter homered in the first inning for New York, but Chili Davis belted two homers and drove in four runs in the Angels' 7-1 victory, giving Joe Maddon his first "W" as a Major League manager. On Tuesday night, Maddon picked up his 1,000th career win as the Cubs topped the Reds, 9-5. He is the eighth active big league manager to reach 1,000 wins, joining the Giants' Bruce Bochy, the Nationals' Dusty Baker, the Angels' Mike Scioscia, the Orioles' Buck Showalter, the Indians' Terry Francona, the Pirates' Clint Hurdle and the Royals' Ned Yost. Is 1,000 a big deal? Baker still has the lineup card from his 1,000th win. It's a symbol of longevity in a business that doesn't always offer that opportunity. "I say this all the time, we've been fortunate enough to be around to be able to get 1,000 wins," Bochy said. "It's always the players. Along with those thousand wins are a lot of losses that come with it."

Maddon's journey to 1,000 began well before that Yankee Stadium game. It all started at Class A Idaho Falls in 1981, when he listened to a scout who suggested he give up the idea of catching in the big leagues and consider coaching. Maddon was 27 years old at the time. Besides managing the Idaho Falls club, he was the pitching coach, hitting coach, third-base coach and English instructor for the Venezuelan players. In 1982, he was the skipper at Salem and named Northwest League Manager of the Year, guiding the team to the league championship. His Minor League managerial journey included a season with Class A Peoria in 1984 and two with Double-A Midland in the Texas League before he finally got the call to the big leagues in 1996 to be the Angels' bullpen coach. Marcel Lachemann began that season as the Angels' manager, but he left and John McNamara took over. Maddon suddenly found himself the interim manager for a 22-game stretch when McNamara was sidelined with deep vein thrombosis (blood clot) in his right calf. The Angels went 8-14 under Maddon. In 1999, the Angels had the worst record in baseball at 51-82, and manager Terry Collins resigned. Maddon was the bench coach at that time, and named interim again, leading the team to a 19-10 record. Maddon got his own team in 2006, when he was named the Rays' manager and, after two fifth-place finishes, he guided Tampa Bay to a 97-65 record in 2008 and the World Series. The Rays lost to the Phillies that fall, including three one-run losses in Games 1, 3 and the deciding Game 5. The time with Scioscia and the Angels influenced Maddon, who likes to say they giggled a lot. They enjoyed the game, and found ways to get the most out of their players. Maddon likes to keep the mood light with zany suit trips, pajama trips, live animal visits and lots of music. "Joe's put his own fingerprints on it," Scioscia said of Maddon's managerial style. "I really like the themes when they go on a road trip. You have to be in a baseball season and live it every day with the pressure that's there for players with the intensity, with the travel, to understand how important a simple thing like when they do 'Miami Vice' [trips]. I think it's tremendous. Joe's put his little spin on some things, and a lot of that carried through the season." Maddon took advantage of an opt-out clause in his contract to switch leagues and join the Cubs in 2015 and has racked up the wins each year. The Cubs won 97 games in Maddon's first season, a franchise record for most wins in a manager's first year (the old mark was 96, set by Jim Frey in 1984). Last year, the Cubs won a Major League-best 103 games, which helped Maddon reach the milestone. "It's a number that players allow you to have," Showalter said. "I think Joe understands that. Joe has been in all types of situations. ... Joe has always understood where he is and brings what that team needs. He's one of those guys that adjusts to the team as opposed to have the team adjust to him. That's important, and he's grasped that for a long time. Glad he's in the other league. ... Joe, you feel like he always makes things better." Remember, none of Maddon's postseason wins count toward his career total. "You look at a man who's had tremendous success, he's a great manager, that's a milestone for him," Bochy said. "Good for him. And I'd think he'll tell you the same, that he got his opportunity and he's thankful that he's been able to manage this game of baseball long enough to get that many wins." One thousand wins is something 63 managers have achieved. Yost keeps it in perspective. "It was special," he said of the milestone. "Going into managing, you always think that getting to 1,000 wins would be pretty cool. You'd have longevity. It wasn't as cool as winning the World Series. "I've got more losses than I got wins," Yost said. "Big number on that end, too."

Did you know: • Maddon is three-time Manager of the Year (2008, '11 American League; '15 National League) • Maddon is one of four managers in Major League history to go to the postseason six or more times and not play in the Major Leagues (also Joe McCarthy, Earl Weaver and Jim Leyland). • Maddon has managed teams to 90 regular-season wins seven times, including his first two seasons with the Cubs. -- Cubs.com Epstein calls for calm as Cubs find footing By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- One year ago at this time, Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein was being asked about the team's red-hot start to the 2016 season and whether they could give the players enough rest to be ready for the playoffs. Epstein thought that was nonsense, and on Tuesday, he expressed the same sentiment regarding suggestions that some everyday players need to go to Triple-A to get on track. "There's no panic, but there's also a lot of guys in there who care about playing up to our capabilities, which is one of the reasons I have so much trust in this group and a lot of confidence that we'll get it straightened out," Epstein said. "If people want to sell low on the Cubs, sell their stock, we'll buy. We know how good we can and will be." The Cubs entered Tuesday's game against the Reds having lost seven of their last nine, and they batted .174 in that stretch. Leadoff man Kyle Schwarber was batting .179, but Epstein and manager Joe Maddon have said there are no discussions about sending the outfielder to the Minors or moving him from the No. 1 spot in the batting order. Schwarber feels good about his at-bats even if he doesn't have much to show for it. "I like the way my at-bats have been going, so I'm going to keep with this tide," Schwarber said. "Things are going to change, I know it will, and as a team, too. It's about learning from your failure, and how you come back from that will define the team. There's no panic button being pressed. We know we're a good team, and we know how we can play." Right on cue, Schwarber snapped an 0-for-15 stretch with a 462-foot solo home run off Bronson Arroyo during the second inning Tuesday night, his sixth homer of the season. Appearing to be re-energized at home, the Cubs clubbed four home runs to beat the Reds, 9-5. The Cubs were 27-9 last year after 36 games, and had an eight-game lead in the National League Central. They did finish with 103 wins but didn't keep up that pace. "I'd be a fool to say we're going to snap off 18-over between now and the break," Maddon said. "The point is we were kind of pedestrian for a while last year and still won 103 games. This is part of the regular season. The only way it gets bad is if you give in to it. The Cubs opened a 10-game homestand on Tuesday. Maybe this is the stretch that will turn things around? "We need to win some games here to get back on track and feel good about ourselves," Kris Bryant said before the opener. "It's still early, and nobody's running away with the division. There's no panic here." Schwarber wasn't the only one scuffling. Anthony Rizzo was batting .213, Ben Zobrist was hitting .223, and Addison Russell was at .226. Both Russell and Rizzo went deep Tuesday, however, with Rizzo recording a pair of hits.

The offensive awakening immediately validated Epstein's confidence. "That's not going to last at all," Epstein said of the club's slump at the plate. "We have a ton of supremely talented offensive players, and they'll reach their level by the end of the year and the back of their baseball card will look like they always do." -- Cubs.com Bryant back as injured Cubs make strides By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Kris Bryant returned to the Cubs' lineup on Tuesday after missing three games because of what the medical staff called an upper respiratory infection and early pneumonia, something the third baseman said he'd never experienced before. "I was wiped out -- it was terrible," Bryant said. The reigning National League Most Valuable Player isn't sure what happened either. "It just hit me and came out of nowhere," he said. "I've never felt that before, and it was weird to me." • Jason Heyward took batting practice on the field Tuesday for the first time since he was placed on the disabled list with a sprained right index finger. He could be activated by the end of the week. He was eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday. "The biggest thing is to not [have a relapse]," Heyward said. There is no ligament damage to his hand, and all the pain is in his right knuckle, which has limited his ability to hit. He was injured on May 5, when he fell trying to catch a ball against the Yankees. "It's one of those tedious [injuries] because it feels like it takes so much time to heal," he said. Ben Zobrist, who has been bothered by a sore back, was kept out of Tuesday's lineup more as a precautionary measure. "I just want to be very careful with him, quite frankly, and that's all I'm doing," manager Joe Maddon said. Jon Jay, who has not played since he was sidelined on Friday with back spasms, was "effervescent," Maddon said, and available to come off the bench. • Ian Happ, the Cubs' No. 2 prospect who was promoted on Saturday, made his third straight start Tuesday, this time in center field. The Cubs' Minor League staff has told Maddon that Happ can play all three outfield positions. Maddon said his only concerns are Happ's first exposure to the brick wall at Wrigley Field and making sure he communicates with the other outfielders. Said Bryant of Happ: "He's a stud. He was ready coming out of Spring Training. I hope he's here to stay." How long will Happ be with the big league team? "When you call someone up, you always have plans in pencil," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "He's feeling great at the plate right now. He tends to be streaky, so when he's on a hot streak, he's really hot. He's got a great temperament and seems comfortable up here already. "We'll play it by ear and do the appropriate thing for Ian and his development."

• On Thursday, the Cubs will commemorate the 70th anniversary of Jackie Robinson playing his first game at Wrigley Field, which is the only remaining Major League ballpark in which he played. The game on May 18, 1947, drew a paid crowd of 46,572 fans to Wrigley, which remains the largest paid regular-season crowd in ballpark history. Jackie Robinson's granddaughter, Meta Robinson, will help raise a new flag honoring his legacy on the ballpark's right-field foul pole. The team had previously flown a "JR 42" flag on Wrigley Field's rooftop following the retirement of Robinson's No. 42 by Major League Baseball in 1997. -- ESPNChicago.com What gets laid-back Wade Davis' adrenaline flowing? By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO – He’s the one Chicago Cubs pitcher unquestionably dominating at his job, and now that Aroldis Chapman is on the DL, it makes the trade for Wade Davis look even better. Davis is perfect in save opportunities and hasn’t even given up a run this season, but what do we really know of the mild mannered closer? He’s quiet and keeps to himself but he sat down long enough to give us some insight on what makes him tick. Tell me about where you’re from, Lake Wales in central Florida. Wade Davis: It’s a smaller town but had a good high school sports program. Good baseball, football, everything really. Growing up there was awesome. Great family and atmosphere to grow up in. Now tell me about Spook Hill in your hometown. What’s that all about? WD: I went to elementary school there, and I guess there is some illusion that you’re going up the hill when you’re going down it. I never saw it though. I never got it. I guess if your car is in neutral, it looks like it’s going uphill instead of down, but I never got it. I bet a lot of people don’t know this, but your second cousin is former Cub Jody Davis. Can you sing the song Harry used to sing? WD: (laughing) I was like 4 when he played, so I don’t know the song. We’ve hooked up a couple of times when he was managing in the minor leagues. We were at the same level. We had lot of guys in my family play baseball. My dad played, brother, him. So you were a starter at one time. When they asked you to be a reliever, did you go kicking and screaming? WD: Not really. I usually don’t get too mad about decisions like that. I mean if you don’t understand why people are making decisions than you’re not being true to yourself. I definitely kept going. It’s kind of happened twice. There was competition in spring training (in Tampa Bay) and I got moved down. Was that a big deal for you, pitching in Tampa after growing up in central Florida? WD: When I first got drafted, I thought it was really cool. And I got to play on some good teams down there, which was a blessing. It was a good run over there. You seem like a laid-back guy, so you must like how Joe Maddon handles things. Is he the same as he was in Tampa? WD: Yeah, he’s cool. He creates some good distractions to keep your mind off the negative things going on. You may not even see that’s what he’s trying to do. Keep the mind at ease and free of negativity. He’s talked about you as a “pitcher” and not just a flame-throwing closer. Is that the starter still in you?

WD: I don’t think so. It’s just having better success, trying to make good pitches instead of throwing hard stuff over the middle of the plate. I mean if you have superhero stuff then fine, but other than that, it’s better to be a student of the game. Is that just a great feeling then? Throwing a 3-2 curve and freezing a guy for strike three? WD: I don’t know if it’s a better feeling than throwing 120 mph, but it’s not bad. Just trying to keep things under control. I know you faced the Cubs a couple years ago, but right now who would be the toughest out for you if you had to face your own team? WD: That’s a tough one. I think the most uncomfortable would be Rizzo. He’s right there on top of the plate, so it’s an awkward visual -- some things there would make me uncomfortable. You want to go down and away on him but, he’ll hit that so it’s tough either way. I don’t know if everyone understands the adrenaline aspect of the game. How long after a save does it take you to come down and get some sleep compared to if you don’t pitch that night? WD: It’s like 3 or 4 a.m. If I don’t pitch, it’s much easier. You’re still hitting a lot of caffeine, but that adrenaline isn’t there like it is after you pitch. You come down about 30 minutes after a game then you’re up forever. That must be a tough one for a closer because you’re always the last guy to go, so to speak. WD: Especially when there is a day game the next day. And we have a lot of those. You’re getting four to five hours' sleep in that case. You guys are about .500. You played on the Royals after winning a championship. They floundered a little out of the gate. Any similarities? WD: Not really. Baseball is a tough game. Any team that’s around .500 is competing well. I mean you can flip a coin in a lot of games so there is a fine line. You just have to keep going, but we’ll get it going. Just watching from the bullpen, are you expecting a run coming up here? WD: I think you always expect them. What’s the point of showing up if you don’t? It’s counterproductive. Last one: What do you do in the offseason to relax? WD: Not leave my house. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs' Ian Happ steals spotlight from manager Joe Maddon By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- There's little doubt that Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon deserves some headlines after winning his 1,000th game in the dugout, but a player who was on the winning side for the first time in the big leagues might steal the spotlight. Rookie Ian Happ (first round, 2015) homered and walked twice -- once with the bases loaded -- in the Cubs' 9-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night as he continues a hot start to his career. "You have to be mentally tough," Happ said after another strong performance at the plate. "You have to understand if you take it pitch-by-pitch, you'll have a chance at success."

Happ is in the same position sluggers such as Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant were in before him. He has burst onto the scene as that "next guy" and is taking every advantage of his opportunities. Happ is 4-for-10 with a .538 on-base percentage in three games. His home run to left field in the fifth inning Tuesday was impressive, but his bases-loaded walk one inning later showed his manager even more. "Didn't expand the strike zone, took the walk," Maddon said. "That's really nice to see out of a young player ... Ian looks extremely in the moment and calm." It's the same way people used to describe Schwarber, who happens to be one of the few guys who can relate to Happ's plight right now. It wasn't long ago that Schwarber was the hottest thing up from the minors, though now he's attempting to come out of a cold streak. He knows what Happ is feeling. "As long as you can keep seeing the ball like a beach ball, it's great," Schwarber said. "It's great when you get up here and all the adrenaline is rushing. We're glad to have him. He's sparking us right now, and he's a really good ballplayer. We're happy to have him up here." Schwarber used to be that spark, but he has taken a back seat as he attempts to emerge from a season-long slump. Tuesday was a step in the right direction, as he homered and hit an opposite-field single later in the game. Schwarber will undoubtedly find his stroke again, but Happ's doing it right now. Happ's performance so far leads to two questions: Can he keep it up, and will the Cubs keep him in the big leagues? "He's already in tomorrow," Maddon said shortly after Tuesday's game. "That wasn't difficult." What about when Jason Heyward returns from the disabled list or Ben Zobrist's back is feeling better? The Cubs could always send down Tommy La Stella and/or Jeimer Candelario, but staying on the roster isn't the same as starting. Would Maddon play Happ over his World Series heroes? It's a question that will soon need to be addressed, but for now, the calm rookie is just happy to contribute. "Two walks and two strikeouts today," Happ said. "Can still get better, but for me, being disciplined, swinging at strikes ... is part of my game, especially in that situation -- with Wrigley bumping like that." He was referring to the entire stadium being on its feet as he battled to a full count before walking with the bases loaded. It was a veteran at-bat. The fans in center field Tuesday understand a good thing when they see it. "A ton of support," Happ said. "Especially after that home run. I can't say enough how great these fans are." After the win, Happ was savvy enough to understand who writes his name on the lineup card. His first win was his manager's 1,000th. Neither will forget it, and Happ made sure to recognize it. "He's the best," Happ said of Maddon. "He's been doing this for a while, and he's very good at it. Happy for him." The rookie is pretty good as well. -- ESPNChicago.com Theo Epstein not worried about Cubs' record By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs president Theo Epstein isn't wavering from his contention his team will turn things around soon, and that includes leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber, who's hitting .187 after Tuesday's win against the Cincinnati Reds.

"He hasn't gotten on track yet but we have no doubts that he will," Epstein said Tuesday afternoon. "If anyone wants to sell their Kyle Schwarber stock, we're buying. "Right around this time last year we were 25-6 and I was getting asked non-sarcastic questions about how we were going to manage the push for the greatest record of all time versus resting guys for the playoffs and I called B.S. on that and now I'm getting asked if we're going to send everyday guys down to Triple A ... or if we're going to consider selling. I call B.S. on that too." The Cubs open a 10-game homestand on Tuesday after a 2-4 road trip that dropped them below .500 (18-19) for the first time this late in a season since the end of 2014. Playing at Wrigley Field has been no guarantee this year either as they're just 7-9 at home. "There's no panic but there's a lot of guys that care about playing up to our capabilities," Epstein said. "You never know where the bottom is or what catalytic event is going to be that turns things around." A lot of the focus lately has been on the Cubs' lineup as it is collectively slumping while dealing with some nagging injuries. World Series starters from a year ago Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist, Kris Bryant and Addison Russell all missed time on the road trip, but it's Schwarber who is taking the brunt of the abuse by both fans and media. The Cubs tabbed him as their leadoff man to replace Dexter Fowler but it's not clicking right now. His on-base percentage is just .313 going into Tuesday's game, prompting a reporter to ask what it would take to send the slugger to Triple-A. "When we feel like it's the right thing for him and the team," Epstein shot back. "He's going to have tremendous production by the end of the year. He's going to have a lot of big hits to help us win games. [This slump] just means there's a lot of hits out there for the rest of the year." The Cubs are taking the same approach with their entire lineup, which is ranked eighth in runs in the National League but last in hitting with runners in scoring position. Epstein indicated only his MVP, Kris Bryant, is hitting up to his capabilities. "It's not going to last, at all," Epstein said. "What it tells me is we're going to have five or six guys get hot at the same time." Epstein is even optimistic about pitcher Jake Arrieta, whose 5.44 ERA ranks him 73rd in the NL among pitchers who have started at least one game. Arrieta's fastball has been down 3-4 mph all season. "He hasn't locked in his delivery yet," Epstein said. "When he does things will be different." The overall message was not to panic. The Cubs certainly aren't, not 37 games into the season. Epstein expects better but can't say exactly when that will happen. "There is no lack of urgency, there is no complacency because we won last year," Epstein stated. "There's just frustration because we haven't gotten there. There's no panic. "I'm not blind to what's gone on but you also have to trust in what you believe." Right now the Cubs believe in their team without question, but already Epstein is fielding questions about trade talks which will pick up after the June. He'll be in the market for some starting pitching no matter how much things turn around -- which he's sure they will. "Like Schwarber, if people want to sell low on the Cubs we'll buy," he said. "The season is 162 games for a reason. It tends to be a meritocracy over 162." --

CSNChicago.com Looking Like He Belongs, Ian Happ Sparks Cubs In Win Over Reds By Patrick Mooney Within two years of getting drafted, Ian Happ hit cleanup and started in center field for the defending World Series champs at Wrigley Field. The Cubs didn’t necessarily envision this scenario — adding Happ to a .500-ish team in the middle of May — but there might be no turning back now. “He’s already in tomorrow,” manager Joe Maddon said late Tuesday night after bringing a glass of Big Smooth red wine into the interview room to celebrate his 1,000th win as a big-league manager. “That wasn’t difficult.” Happ is making it harder on team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer to stick with the original plan of using him as a short-term replacement while multiple Cubs rested and recovered. Happ helped spark the Cubs during a 9-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, driving a 74-mph Bronson Arroyo pitch into the left-field bleachers for his second home run in three games since his promotion from Triple-A Iowa over the weekend. “When you call someone up, you always have plans in pencil,” Epstein said. “Nothing’s ever written in ink. He’s feeling great at the plate right now. He tends to be streaky, so when he’s on a hot streak, it gets really hot and it lasts a long time. “He’s got a great temperament. He seems comfortable up there already. I think spring training really helped him. His defensive instincts have improved tremendously from where he was in college. He looks more comfortable at a number of positions now, and that allows us to find a spot in the lineup for him more consistently, especially when guys are banged up.” A patient switch-hitter, Happ also drew two walks against the Reds and showcased his defensive versatility by moving over to left field — ideal qualities for a Maddon player and the front office that selected him out of the University of Cincinnati with the ninth overall pick in 2015. “For me, being disciplined, swinging at strikes, swinging at pitches I can do damage on is part of the game,” said Happ, who’s gone 4-for-10 with a double, those two homers, four RBI, three runs scored and three walks during this audition. “Especially in that situation, first time being in Wrigley bumping like that, I felt good about the way I handled it. I felt good about the way I saw the baseball.” The Cubs are starting to get healthy, with Kris Bryant returning to the lineup after getting the weekend off while dealing with an upper respiratory infection and early signs of pneumonia. Jason Heyward (sprained right finger) went through his normal pregame routine and hopes to be activated from the disabled list soon. Jon Jay (back spasms) is feeling better, while Ben Zobrist doesn’t expect his stiff back to develop into a DL situation. All those issues opened the door for Happ, but Epstein didn’t sound ready to close it yet. “We’ll just play it by ear, do the appropriate thing for the team and for Ian’s development,” Epstein said. “We weren’t anticipating an extremely long-term stay. But we’re going to read and react based on how he plays and what’s going on with the other guys and their health.” -- CSNChicago.com Breaking Down The Trade Market And Jake Arrieta As Cubs Preach Patience With Pitching By Patrick Mooney It’s still too early to be dreaming about Yu Darvish pitching at Wrigley Field, guessing if the Pittsburgh Pirates would trade Gerrit Cole within the division, calculating how much money remains on Zack Greinke’s megadeal or wondering what a change of scenery and the Chicago nightlife might do to Matt Harvey.

Or at least Cubs president Theo Epstein isn’t buying the early speculation that the July 31 deadline could create unexpected sellers like the Texas Rangers and New York Mets, a glut of starting pitchers and accelerated deals. “That stuff doesn’t play itself out (yet),” Epstein before Tuesday’s 9-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds. “One six-game winning or losing streak right now takes a team from one category to another. We obviously have to prepare and allocate our scouting resources and whatnot. But it doesn’t make any sense to speculate on the nature of the trade market now, because it will look different in July than it does right now.” Epstein faced the Chicago media at the beginning of a 10-game homestand that should be revealing for a 19-19 team. Everything around the Cubs will pale in comparison to last year — because that became a once-in-a-lifetime experience — but the rotation looms as the most immediate problem and biggest question mark for the future. Last season, the Cubs put up 27 quality starts and a 2.34 rotation ERA through their first 37 games. So far this season, it’s 14 quality starts through 37 games with a 4.47 rotation ERA, even though the personnel remains 80 percent the same. “The starting pitching is trending in the right direction,” Epstein said. “Last year (was) not typical. They were all locked in. They were so consistent. They had tremendous defense behind them, night in, night out. Things were breaking our way. “This year, it hasn’t been that way. It’s been more realistic, where a couple guys are throwing the ball really well and a couple guys are searching. Balls are falling in. Our defense, for whatever reason, hasn’t been quite as locked in as it was last year. But I see that starting to turn. “Kyle (Hendricks has) thrown really well the last three or four times out. (Jon) Lester’s been really good. (John) Lackey was terrific his last time out there (at Coors Field). Eddie Butler gave us a huge boost (in St. Louis). We’re excited to see what he can do as he remains in the rotation.” The X-factor is Jake Arrieta, the former Cy Young Award winner with diminished velocity and a 5.44 ERA through eight starts. Arrieta has also put up 49 strikeouts against 13 walks in 44.2 innings and gone through this before. Epstein made a similar observation to scouts who watched Arrieta struggle at times last season, when he still finished with 18 wins, a 3.10 ERA, a .194 batting average against and a .583 opponents’ OPS. The crossfire motion that makes Arrieta so deceptive and explosive can be difficult to maintain. “Jake, obviously, is still making adjustments, still searching,” Epstein said. “The thing with Jake is — because there’s a lot going on in his delivery — sometimes it takes him a little bit longer than others to find where his body is in space and get that muscle memory down. “But when he does lock in, he stays locked in (for a long time). So I think it’s inevitable that he will find it.” If Arrieta doesn’t get locked in, or the rotation’s remarkable stretch of good health finally ends, or Lackey runs out of gas at the age of 38, the Cubs will still have to be patient. One month out, the Cubs are focused on a June draft where they will have two first-round picks to spend on pitching. “Right after the draft, everyone takes a day or two, catches their breath and then takes a hard look at what they need,” Epstein said. “That’s when more chatter picks up. Trades are basically made at the same time every year. It seems like there’s a little flurry around July 2 and then mid-July and plenty at the end of July.” With an underperforming rotation, Arrieta and Lackey in contract years and a farm system where the arms haven’t come close to matching the bats, it’s no secret what the Cubs are looking for now: pitching, pitching and more pitching. “We’ve been doing the same thing we do every single year,” Epstein said. “Every single year, we have pro scouts out from Opening Day on, from spring training on, and we have weekly meetings where we sort of try to

understand the landscape and what are some opportunities, what are some potential pitfalls. We’re just doing the same stuff we’re always doing.” -- CSNChicago.com Theo Epstein's Message From Cubs: 'If Anyone Wants To Sell Their Kyle Schwarber Stock, We're Buying' By Patrick Mooney Kyle Schwarber walked into Wrigley Field around 12:58 p.m. on Tuesday — or more than six hours before first pitch — to study video of Bronson Arroyo and the Cincinnati Reds bullpen, hit in the cage and go through his normal pregame routine. This had nothing to do with his .179 batting average and says everything about why the Cubs have so much faith in him. “I always get here around then,” Schwarber said. “It’s just me. I don’t feel like being rushed. I always want to settle in.” Schwarber isn’t going anywhere and you could already see this kind of 9-5 slugfest coming — a 40-year-old finesse pitcher on the mound, 87-degree weather, 20-mph winds and the defending World Series champs playing a team that lost 94 games and used a No. 2 overall draft pick last year. President of baseball operations Theo Epstein called it before Schwarber snapped an 0-for-17 streak in the second inning by crushing a 74-mph Arroyo pitch that landed near the top of the right-center field bleachers. The Statcast projections came in at 462 feet and 107.4-mph exit velocity. “If anyone wants to sell their Kyle Schwarber stock, we’re buying,” Epstein said. “If they want to sell low, we’ll buy low. He’s going to have tremendous production at the end of the year. He’s going to have a lot of big hits to help us win games. It just means there’s a lot of hits out there for the rest of the year. “He hasn’t gotten on track yet, but we have no doubts that he will.” It became personal for Epstein when the Cubs drafted Schwarber and made him untouchable in trade talks last summer, even as he recovered from major surgery on his left knee. It didn’t matter what the rest of the industry thought of the Indiana Hoosier or if it might be perceived as a reach with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 draft or what the best team in baseball needed at the deadline. Schwarber gave Epstein flashbacks to his time with the Boston Red Sox — a combination of David Ortiz’s left-handed power and Dustin Pedroia’s energy, intensity and clubhouse influence. So there would be no overreacting to a leadoff guy now hitting .187 after a 2-for-4 night in the middle of May. Schwarber is still among the National League’s top 10 in walks (24) and pitches per plate appearance (4.4) this season — to go with his five career homers in 14 playoff games and unbelievable 7-for-17 comeback during last year’s World Series. “I don’t blame ‘em,” Schwarber said of the doubters. “I wish that they could feel what I feel. Obviously, I feel terrible when you’re not helping your team or anything like that. But I’m going to go out there every day and I’m going to help my team win. Today was a good day.” Epstein sounded surprised/annoyed when a reporter asked: At what point does the slump become deep enough — or how long — before you consider the possibility of sending Schwarber to Triple-A Iowa? “When we feel like that’s the right thing for him and the team,” Epstein said. “When we think he’s not giving himself a chance up there. We don’t think he’s close to that at all. If you look at his (at-bats) lately, there are still some ones where he’s kind of missing heaters that he normally clobbers. But there was a ton of contact this weekend (in St. Louis). I think he’s really close.”

That’s how Epstein views the 19-19 Cubs as a whole — on the verge of a breakout that will overwhelm the blah start to the season. After building the franchise around hitters through draft picks, trades and free agents, Epstein so far only sees Kris Bryant as a “net positive” offensively through mid-May. “We have a ton of supremely talented offensive players,” Epstein said. “They’re going to reach their level by the end of the year and the numbers on the back of the baseball card are going to look like they always do. So what it tells me is we’re going to have five or six guys get really hot at the same time. “Like I said with Schwarber, the same applies to the team. If people want to sell low on the Cubs, sell their stock, we’ll buy. We still really believe in this team. We know how good we can — and will — be when we get it locked in.” --