February 18, 2017

Daily Herald, For Cubs' Lester and Contreras, it's all about repetition http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170217/sports/170218903/

Daily Herald, Cubs' Russell getting a grip on handling fame http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170217/sports/170218919/

Cubs.com, Schwarber catches bullpen session at camp http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/216316792/kyle-schwarber-catches-session-at-cubs-camp/

Cubs.com, Lester: Cubs are 'naive enough' to repeat http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/216309000/jon-lester-on-why-cubs-can-repeat-in-2017/

Cubs.com, Cubs notes: Russell recalls whirlwind year http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/216332190/addison-russell-at-cubs-camp-after-wild-year/

CSNChicago.com, Cubs Reboot The Kyle Schwarber Catching Experiment http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-reboot-kyle-schwarber-catching-experiment

CSNChicago.com, How Cubs See Jon Lester And Willson Contreras Working Together http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/how-cubs-see-jon-lester-and-willson-contreras-working-together

CSNChicago.com, Cubs: Why Jon Lester Thinks Year 2 Will Be Different For Jason Heyward http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-why-jon-lester-thinks-year-2-will-be-different-jason-heyward

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Kyle Hendricks relishes hometown Sportsman of the Year award http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-kyle-hendricks-local-honor-20170218-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Kyle Schwarber displays cautious style catching first bullpen session http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kyle-schwarber-catches-bits-cubs-spt-0218-20170217-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Jon Lester eager to find ways to help Cubs win second consecutive title http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-jon-lester-up-for-challenges-cubs-spt-0218-20170217-story.html

Chicago Tribune, White Sox more intriguing this spring, but Cubs still command biggest stage http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-white-sox-cubs-spring-training-haugh-spt-0219-20170218-column.html

Chicago Tribune, Now a national brand, Cubs will be challenged to avoid distractions http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-cubs-national-attention-endorsements-sullivan-spt-0219-20170218-column.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Out on a limb: How Schwarber might handle catching after injury http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/out-on-a-limb-how-schwarber-might-handle-catching-after-injury/

Chicago Sun-Times, Can Cubs stay charged with battery change when Lester pitches? http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/can-changing-batteries-keep-cubs-charged-when-lester-pitches/

-- Daily Herald For Cubs' Lester and Contreras, it's all about repetition By Bruce Miles MESA, Ariz. -- Left-hander Jon Lester comes to Chicago Cubs spring training with a lot of credibility. He won two World Series with the Boston Red Sox before being the staff ace of last year's world-championship Cubs team. Still, Lester has some things to work on this spring. His personal catcher, David Ross, has retired, and Lester will spend the spring getting used to working with young catcher Willson Contreras. "I think whoever it was, just being able to throw to him," Lester said Friday. "That's what it comes down to. Rossy and I just didn't jump in and all of a sudden click. It took a few starts for us to kind of hammer some things out and him getting used to some things I like to do and vice versa. I think that's all it really comes down to, is just pitching, time on the mound, time behind the plate. "Willson is a smart kid and he cares and he wants to get better. He's eager to please. I think he has all the attributes to be a really good catcher in this league for a long time. I don't think there's going to be much of a learning curve." Lester also spent significant time on a back field Friday working on fielding grounders and throwing to first base, and also on throwing to first on pickoff attempts. Throwing after fielding and pickoff throws has been a problem for Lester through much of his career, but he and Ross were able to limit opposing teams' running games the past two years with the Cubs. "I've been pretty open about it since Day 1," Lester said. "I'm not the one who keeps bringing it up, other than that joke (he made about it on Twitter). It is what it is. It's nothing to hide from. It's there. I'll just keep worrying about throwing it 60 feet, 6 inches." Manager Joe Maddon had an interesting perspective on it. "Sometimes we get caught up in dealing with what we don't do well, and while you're doing that you don't really reinforce what you do well," Maddon said. "I made the point that I want you to continue to work on what you do well as a pitcher. Of course, address those items that aren't your strong point but not to the point where you get so obsessed with it that takes away from what you do well. I think for a while there, that's what happened. "John is so good at throwing the ball from the rubber to the plate that I don't want anything to get in the way of that." Back behind the plate: Kyle Schwarber took one session as a catcher Friday, working with pitcher John Lackey. The Cubs are going to ease Schwarber into catching in the wake of his recovery from last April's knee surgery. "Of course he wanted to do more, and we said no," said Joe Maddon. "Yeah, that was planned, on one knee primarily." Schwarber will get most of his reps in left field this spring while working one or two days behind the plate. The quote:

Joe Maddon came up with this one when talking about getting work in during spring training: "There are still a lot of days left in February, which is a compliment to February because it's so short." -- Daily Herald Cubs' Russell getting a grip on handling fame By Bruce Miles MESA, Ariz. -- Not many 22-year-olds get handed the key to their home city. That happened this off-season in Pensacola, Florida, for Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell, and the way things are going for this now 23-year-old young man, he may be able to call the world his own before too long. Even at his tender age, Russell is one of the stalwarts of a world-champion team. His star has been rising for the past couple of years, and it sparkled during the World Series. Now, everywhere he goes, people notice. "This whole fame thing is completely new to me," he said Friday as position players officially reported for spring training. "It's all very cool stuff. I get to go home, and there was Addison Russell Day at Pace High School in November. "There's a lot to take in. There's so much I want to tell my parents, but I just can't seem to find the time, because everything's going." Russell said there was a point when it all hit him. "I remember this past off-season going into my mom's room and laying down on her bed," he said. "That's when all the memories of this past year, all the way from spring training to the middle of the season, all-star and then the World Series run, it all hit me at once. It was overbearing, kind of. I started crying. That's when it sunk in. It was just a magical moment. "I couldn't even really talk. I had the family around me. It's just kind of the way that I was brought up, too. It's very good to see that nothing has really changed. It's like a surreal moment right there. It really sunk everything in whenever the tears were coming down my face. I think that was one of the more happy moments of my life." Russell has impressed everyone around the Cubs with his aplomb since they acquired him in a trade with Oakland in July of 2014. Russell hit a grand slam in Game 6 of the World Series, and after the game he sat on stage and calmly talked about his exploits in front of the national media at Cleveland's Progressive Field. "It happens all so quick," he said. "It's really hard to even grasp it. Whenever you're in that type of situation, there's something in the back of your mind that says, 'Remember this. Remember this.' Then you do." Russell can get used to the fame and being noticed in places like airports around the country. He made his first all-star team last season on the way to putting up a regular-season batting line of .238/.321/.417 with 21 homers and 95 RBI and playing stellar defense. After going 1-for-15 in the division series against the Giants, Russell was 6-for-22 with 2 homers against the Dodgers in the championship series. He was 6-for-27 with the grand slam and 9 RBI in the World Series. Even though this fame thing is new to him, Russell says he could get used to it.

"I love it," he said. "Ever since I was a little kid, I always wanted to be on the big screen. But it was a matter of getting there. I think a good work ethic, a great work ethic, a lot of confidence and a lot of supporters, and I definitely owe a thanks to all my fans. This is all so new. I'm just looking to build off of it and create a positive motive. If I could do that and maybe touch a kid's life here and there, that's the ultimate goal." -- Cubs.com Schwarber catches bullpen session at camp By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Kyle Schwarber got a hug from pitcher John Lackey, and then he got to be a catcher on Friday for the first time this spring. Schwarber caught Lackey's bullpen session, receiving a hug from the Cubs right-hander before they started. Schwarber missed nearly all of last season, tearing two ligaments in his left knee in the third game, and he is projected to play left field most of this year. He was cleared medically to catch one or two days a week in Spring Training, and during his session with Lackey, Schwarber extended his left leg out while squatting to catch the ball to avoid putting extra stress on the knee. After Lackey's session, Schwarber did some baserunning drills on a back field and hit with the catchers. "Of course, he wanted to do more and we said, 'No,'" Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "That was planned. They got together with the [medical staff] this morning, and everything was in order." Schwarber is considered the third catcher behind Willson Contreras and Miguel Montero. Perhaps in 2018, Schwarber could be given the go-ahead to catch on a regular basis. Maddon didn't want to predict how many games Schwarber would catch this season. "The main thing is to have him in the lineup and keep him healthy," Maddon said. "He's a young man and there's many more years to come. You don't want to jeopardize the potential to catch him in the future either. All that stuff has to be weighed in making that decision." Schwarber could continue to extend his left leg while catching in a game. Other catchers, such as Tony Pena and Jose Molina, have done that. "It's a position you can take with less than two strikes or nobody on base," Maddon said. "With two strikes, you have to be able to block a pitch, and with somebody on base, you have to be able to throw. Any catcher could incorporate that stance if they chose to, with less than two strikes and nobody on." Besides taking some pressure off a catcher's legs, it also presents a lower target for pitchers, Maddon said. Schwarber is still being considered as the Cubs' new leadoff man. He'll need his legs. "He always feels like he's being held back a little bit and that's good," Maddon said. "Talking to him specifically and talking to the medical types, he's good, he's good to go." -- Cubs.com Lester: Cubs are 'naive enough' to repeat By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- The last team to repeat as World Series champions was the Yankees, winning three in a row from 1998-2000. Could the Cubs be the next to do so? Jon Lester says they may be naive and cocky enough.

"What makes the Yankees so special is they were able to do it year in and year out," Lester said Friday. "It's just hard. Teams are better across the board. It's a hard thing to win one, let alone do it two in a row. All we can do is play hard and do the little things like we do in Spring Training to get better and see what happens in the season." Lester, 33, won the World Series in 2007 with the Red Sox and again in 2013. How are the 2017 Cubs different? "I think just youth," Lester said. "Our big guys are so young. They're naive to the situation and just go out and play. Older guys like me and [John Lackey] kind of go slow, and try to take it easy in Spring Training and just be ready to go come April. These guys are ready to go day one, as usual. I think that's the biggest thing for us, and the biggest positive on our side is that we have so many young guys who aren't banged up and don't have as many innings or at-bats under their belt, and it makes it easier on them to rebound and come back and be ready to go." Most teams undergo major turnover on the roster after winning a World Series. That's not the case with the Cubs, who will be missing Dexter Fowler, Aroldis Chapman, Travis Wood and Jason Hammel but have the nucleus back. "With our young guys, they're cocky enough and naive enough at the same time to just go out and play and not worry about anything," Lester said. "You see everybody has a little pep in their step coming into Spring Training being champs. That's good to see, they deserve that. At the same time, when it's time to work, you can see them flip that switch and go back to work." The 2008 Red Sox were ousted in a seven-game American League Championship Series by the Rays, and the 2014 team didn't reach the postseason. "I think every year is so different," Lester said. "I don't think you can put a blueprint out there and say, 'Hey, this is how you repeat.' I think we just have to prepare and play like we did last year." That means play solid defense, have the best pitching staff in the National League, and continue to get the job done on offense, which the Cubs did en route to winning 103 games in 2016. Lester also is realistic. "I hope everybody has the same year they did last year, and that would be really awesome, but that's not baseball," Lester said. "There will be some ebbs and flows." -- Cubs.com Cubs notes: Russell recalls whirlwind year By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Being named to an All-Star team, winning 103 regular-season games and then capturing a World Series (including a historic six RBIs in Game 6), then being feted in a parade in downtown Chicago, going to Disney World -- all of that finally caught up to the Cubs' Addison Russell in late November. "I went into my mom's room and laid down on her bed, and that's when all the memories of the past year, all the way from Spring Training to the middle of the season, [being an] All-Star, the World Series run, it all hit me at once, and it was overbearing kind of, and I started crying," Russell said Friday. "I was like, 'Mom, we got one finally.' She said, 'Yeah, you've been dreaming about this your entire life.' That's when it sunk in. It was just a magical moment." It was a positive moment, Russell said. His dog was licking his face, his family was there to support him, and he just had a delayed reaction to everything that had happened. "I couldn't really talk," he said. "It was a surreal moment right there. It really sunk in when the tears were coming down my face. I think that was one of the happier moments in my life." Russell, who turned 23 last month, is still getting used to having people approach him in airports and other public spaces for autographs or selfies. He was presented the key to the city of Pensacola, Fla., and saluted at Pace (Fla.)

High School in November. The Santa Rosa (Fla.) Board of County Commissioners declared Jan. 16 as "Addison Russell Day." Even cooler was a chance to customize his cleats and glove for the upcoming season. "As a young guy, that's huge," Russell said. "That's all you want to do is find your individualism." Now, it's back to work, as he joined the Cubs' other position players in camp on Friday. The first full-squad workout will be Saturday. "Winning last year was great, but it's in the past," Russell said. "I think a lot of guys here are still hungry. We have a lot of new players who are hungry for their first one or to get the opportunity. I think that's the reason they're here, they want to hop on board and help us out. Let's get the job done." Extra bases • Willson Contreras caught Jon Lester on Friday for the second straight bullpen session. Lester needs a new backstop now that David Ross has retired. "Rossy and I didn't jump in and all of a sudden, it clicked," Lester said Friday. "It took a few starts to hammer some things out and for him to get used to what I like to do and vice versa. "I think that all it comes down to is pitching, time on the mound. Willson is a smart kid, and he wants to get better and he's eager to please. I think he has all the attributes to be a really good catcher for a long time. I don't think there will be much of a learning curve." The two will have a game plan but then may need to make adjustments, and that's where experience becomes important. "Me and Rossy didn't reinvent the wheel with anything special," Lester said. "It's a matter of having a game plan, and if it isn't going well and you aren't able to execute that, the ability to go to Plan B is where I feel like Rossy and I clicked. I saw Willy do that last year a lot with everybody else. "I don't think there will be any problems. He's very talented and very willing to learn and eager to please. That's the biggest thing -- he wants to go out there and make you happy when he's behind the plate." • Hector Rondon has lost the closer's job twice the past two years. Last July, the Cubs acquired Aroldis Chapman and this offseason, they traded for Wade Davis. Manager Joe Maddon said he assured Rondon that he's valuable to the Cubs and that Davis can't close every game. "He understands," Maddon said of Rondon. "The big thing with him is health and keeping him healthy and well. The part about the bullpen ... is that it's deep. Because of that, you like to believe you're not going to overwork anybody." Could Rondon be a closer again? "Possibly," Maddon said. "He's been it, he's definitely capable of that. He's got closer mentality, he's got closer stuff. Of course he can." • Davis played for Maddon in Tampa Bay, so when the Cubs manager met with the pitchers and catchers, it was deja vu for the right-hander. "I felt right at home listening to his opening speech," Davis said. --

CSNChicago.com Cubs Reboot The Kyle Schwarber Catching Experiment By Patrick Mooney MESA, Ariz. – Kyle Schwarber unveiled a Tony Pena-style crouch on Friday morning, sticking out his left leg while catching John Lackey’s side session, trying to show the Cubs that he does have a future behind the plate. Now that Schwarber has been medically cleared to resume catching activities – 10 months after he underwent surgery on his left knee to reconstruct his ACL and repair his LCL – the Cubs are willing to keep this possibility alive. Even if Schwarber only does these physical drills once or twice a week at the Sloan Park complex, and the goal is set at being a viable emergency third catcher when the team leaves Arizona in late March. But going off initial impressions in camp – and after listening to the medical analysis – manager Joe Maddon still sees Schwarber as a potential leadoff guy and part of the catching mix. “Absolutely,” Maddon said after the workout. “He feels great. Obviously, he always feels like he’s being held back a little bit, and that’s good. But, yeah, talking to him specifically and talking to the medical types, he’s good. He’s good to go.” Maddon, who watched Jose Molina use a similar setup for the Tampa Bay Rays, thinks this could work for Schwarber in real games, at least with less than two strikes in the count and no runners on base, and help him present a lower target for pitchers. “Obviously, I still have a passion for catching,” said Schwarber, who will spend most of his defensive time in left field this spring. “If I can do it, I’d like to do it. But if it’s not medically smart, let’s not risk it.” From management’s perspective, this is a left-handed hitter with 30-homer power, an asset that will remain under club control through the 2021 season and a football mentality that doesn’t really allow Schwarber to go half-speed or dial back the intensity. But knowing Schwarber’s hard-charging personality – this is someone who missed almost the entire regular season before his shocking return as a World Series designated hitter – is there a chance he could catch somewhere in the range of 20 or 30 games this year? “If everything breaks well for him properly, and there’s a need,” Maddon said, “you’d like to think that might be something you could do by the end of the season, maybe like a 20-spot. “But I really don’t know. The main thing is to have him in the lineup. The main thing is to keep him healthy. He’s a young man that has many more years to come, so you don’t want to jeopardize the potential to catch him in the future, either, so all that stuff has to be weighed in making that decision.” -- CSNChicago.com How Cubs See Jon Lester And Willson Contreras Working Together By Patrick Mooney MESA, Ariz. – Jon Lester’s so far beyond the first step of admitting there’s a problem, posting a self-deprecating message on his Twitter account to celebrate Major League Baseball’s labor peace: “While my efforts to eliminate pitchers from having to throw to 1B didn’t pass, I’m proud of the PA & Owners for coming together on a new CBA!” Adding a third World Series ring to his collection won’t stop the questions for Lester, who sat through a press conference on Friday morning that lasted almost 19 minutes, talking about the yips and answering why he thinks throwing to young catcher Willson Contreras instead of Grandpa Rossy won’t be an issue.

“I’m not the one that keeps bringing it up, other than that joke,” Lester said. “I’ve been open with it since Day 1. It’s nothing to hide from. It’s there.” David Ross is now walking around the Sloan Park complex as a special assistant in baseball operations, and part of his Mesa portfolio will be helping show Contreras the right buttons to push with Lester, what they learned as teammates on that 2013 Boston Red Sox championship team. “Rossy and I just didn’t jump in and all of a sudden click,” Lester said. “It took a few starts for us to kind of hammer some things out – and him get used to what I like to do and vice versa. That’s all it really comes down to – just pitching, time on the mound, time behind the plate. “Willson’s a smart kid and he cares and he wants to get better. He’s eager to please, so I think he has all the attributes to be a really good catcher in this league for a long time. I don’t think there’s going to be much of a learning curve.” Beyond Lester’s Cy Young Award-level stuff, the Cubs used several mechanisms to help cover up the issue, from varying his times to the plate to disguising pitchouts to coordinating pick-off plays with Gold Glove first baseman Anthony Rizzo to putting together the best defensive unit in the majors. “Willy’s probably got a little bit more arm than David actually has physically,” manager Joe Maddon said. “David was really good about feet and release – (and) I think Willson can also be that good. “Realizing that Willson’s behind the plate, the thought process (for the other team) will be very similar to David behind the plate, regarding the ability to throw to first or throw to second. So I don’t perceive an edge for the other side based on that flip-flop. “The biggest thing for me there is just purely the person, David’s knowledge, his experience, whatever, working with Jon. That’s going to be the part, to me, that we have to be aware of. “When it comes down to controlling the running game and all that stuff, I feel pretty good about it.” At this time last year, Contreras had never before played above the Double-A level, part of an accelerated development that turned him into a key rookie contributor for a 103-win team and the obvious catcher of the future. With Lester signed to a $155 million contract through at least the 2020 season, the Cubs clearly want this to work with Contreras. “Me and Rossy didn’t reinvent the wheel with anything special,” Lester said. “It’s a matter of having a game plan. And when the game plan isn’t going well or you’re not able to execute that – the ability to go to a Plan B is where I feel like Rossy and I kind of clicked. “I saw Willy do that last year a lot with everybody else, so I don’t think it’s going to be any problems. He’s very talented and very willing to learn. “He’s ready to go. I don’t think there’s going to be any issues at all.” Except for that inexplicable mental block for one of the greatest big-game pitchers of his generation. “It is what it is,” Lester said at least three times. “I’ll keep worrying about throwing it 60 feet, six inches.” -- CSNChicago.com Cubs: Why Jon Lester Thinks Year 2 Will Be Different For Jason Heyward By Patrick Mooney

MESA, Ariz. – Jon Lester has already noticed a difference in Jason Heyward. It’s not some magical swing adjustment or best-shape-of-his-life hype or simply the bounce from the Cubs finally winning the World Series. Lester already experienced this, signing the biggest contract in franchise history and reporting to Arizona for Year 2 in a different state of mind. The Cubs hope that helps Heyward recover from the worst offensive season of his career and round out his Gold Glove defense, baseball IQ and clubhouse intangibles. “He’s a little bit more comfortable,” Lester said before Friday’s workout at the Sloan Park complex. “That’s just human nature. You come into a situation with everything else that you’re bringing along. You’re coming into a place where you don’t know a lot of guys. You’re trying to prove that you’re worth something. “You’re trying to prove (it) to the city, to your teammates, to your family, to everybody else, all this stuff. So I think now it’s a matter of: He can just go out and play.” A dead arm slowed down Lester during his first spring training in a Cubs uniform. The $155 million ace then got diagnosed with the yips in front of a national TV audience on Opening Day 2015. That April, the lefty went 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA in four starts before closing with double-digit wins, a 3.34 ERA and another 200-inning season for a playoff team. Lester had perhaps the greatest season of his life in 2016, going 19-5 with a 2.44 ERA, earning his fourth All-Star selection, finishing second in the Cy Young Award voting and becoming the National League Championship Series co-MVP. “That’s kind of how I felt coming into my second year,” Lester said. “OK, we got that one over with. We did some things that we weren’t expected to do. Now it’s time to take that next step. “You just feel more comfortable. You feel like you can come in and kind of let your shoulders down and let your guard down and just worry about playing baseball and getting your work done.” Like Lester, Heyward wanted to play at Wrigley Field and live in Chicago and didn’t necessarily grab the biggest offer when he signed his $184 million megadeal. Heyward had also grown up around winning teams and understood that number would follow him for the rest of his career. Both players got the benefit of the doubt by being good teammates, holding themselves accountable and not hiding from the media. The Cubs will run through their first full-squad workout in Mesa on Saturday, but Heyward has been hitting at the facility throughout the offseason, trying to rediscover what once made him a 27-homer threat for the 2012 Atlanta Braves. “It seems like he’s a little more relaxed,” Lester said. “People told me the same thing two years ago. But when you’re going through it, the 3-for-4 days or the days you pitch seven innings and give up two runs still aren’t good enough. You feel like you have to do more. That second year just feels like you get back to kind of being yourself.” -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' Kyle Hendricks relishes hometown Sportsman of the Year award By Mark Gonzales Despite staying under the radar for nearly his entire athletic career, Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks stood tall on Feb. 1 when he was honored by the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation as its Sportsman of the Year in Newport Beach. Hendricks was moved by the honor, especially since he was selected from a talent-rich area in Southern California.

"It was really cool," Hendricks said. "Not only when you look at the players who have come out of that area, but the athletes who had been given that award in previous years. Jerry West was on the list, and so was Jered Weaver. "But it was very strange to be able to stand on stage and have all the ovations and attention on you. You never imagine that would come to you in your career. "When I was growing up there in Orange County, I was very overlooked. There was so much talent in the area I was never thought of and not highly recruited." Hendricks graduated in 2008 from Capistrano Valley High School, one year ahead of Bears quarterback Matt Barkley, who started at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana for four seasons before duplicating that feat at USC. Barkley was one of the guest speakers who shared the stage with Hendricks. "I didn’t even know he would be there at first," Hendricks said. "But then he got up and talked about me a little bit. "It was strange. I grew up a USC fan, and I knew Barkley and he was a big deal, obviously. It was all a surreal moment. I wasn't uncomfortable, but it was overwhelming in a way." -- Chicago Tribune Kyle Schwarber displays cautious style catching first bullpen session By Mark Gonzales After catching his first bullpen session Friday, Kyle Schwarber took off his gear before raising his fist and joked, "I made it," to catching instructor Tim Cossins. Schwarber was eager to perform more work, but the Cubs simply were encouraged after their prized young slugger caught John Lackey for the first time after tearing two knee ligaments 101/2 months ago. Schwarber extended his surgically repaired left leg while catching — a style he may continue to employ to alleviate stress. "Tony Pena was very good at that," said manager Joe Maddon, adding that Jose Molina used a similar defensive stance. "Any catcher can incorporate that stance if they choose with less than two strikes and nobody on. I'm fine with that. With two strikes, you have to be able to block a pitch. With somebody on base, you have to be able to throw. " Maddon is reluctant to predict how many games Schwarber, who is expected to play left field most of the time, would catch. The Cubs hope Schwarber can progress to the point he can catch one game per week, if needed, and serve as an emergency third catcher behind Willson Contreras and Miguel Montero. "He feels great," said Maddon, who has consulted with the medical staff. "Obviously he feels he's being held back a little bit, and that's good." Russell reminisces: Addison Russell said visiting the White House was the highlight of his offseason, but the Cubs' prized shortstop shared an emotional moment with his mother. "I remembered the memories of this past year, all the way from spring training to All-Star Game to the World Series run," Russell said. "It all hit me at once. It was (overwhelming). "I started crying and said, 'Mom, we got one finally.' She said, 'You've been dreaming about this your entire life,' and that's when it sunk in. It was just a magical moment."

Listen up: Chairman Tom Ricketts is scheduled to address the team before Saturday's first full-squad workout. -- Chicago Tribune Jon Lester eager to find ways to help Cubs win second consecutive title By Mark Gonzales After earning his third World Series ring in a historical manner, Jon Lester now is focusing on the daunting task of helping the Cubs become the first franchise to win consecutive titles since the 1998-2000 Yankees won three in a row. "When it's all said and done and I go home to reflect on it, then I'll look back on my career and see where it's at," Lester said of possibly adding to his multiple ring collection. For now, Lester expresses faith in working with young catcher Willson Contreras after the retirement of his personal catcher, David Ross, and considers the considerable task of pitching 200 innings for the sixth consecutive season. There's also the challenge of improving his fielding and holding runners at first base, which was on display Friday on a practice field under the supervision of pitching coach Chris Bosio. During his shortened offseason, Lester quipped about baseball not eliminating pitchers throwing to first base in a tweet that otherwise congratulated the owners and Major League Baseball Players Association for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement. "I've been pretty open about it since day one," Lester said of the spotlight on his fielding. "I'm not the one who keeps bringing it up, other than that joke." The defensive improvement Lester showed last season was encouraging to manager Joe Maddon as a National League-high 13 baserunners were caught stealing with the left-hander on the mound in 41 attempts. Moreover, opponents batted only .173 with runners in scoring position against Lester — the second lowest mark among NL pitchers who faced a minimum of 125 batters. Maddon stresses the he wants his pitchers also to work on what they do well. "Of course, address those items that aren't your strong point, but not so you get obsessed with them and it takes away from what you do well." After tying or setting career highs with 19 victories and a 2.44 ERA last season in 2022/3 innings, Lester's room for improvement is shared with Contreras, who caught only one of Lester's 32 starts last season. "Rossy and I didn't reinvent the wheel with anything special, so it's a matter of having a game plan," Lester said. "When the game plan isn't going well or you're not able to execute that, the ability to go to a plan B is where Rossy and I clicked. "I saw Willie do that a lot last year with everyone else. I don't think there will be any problem." Lester cited a season-opening trip to Japan that caused early fatigue in 2008 and a roster overhaul in 2014 as factors in the Red Sox's inability to repeat as world champions. But the talent and energy of his young teammates lends hope for this season. "Our big guys are so young they're naive to the situation," Lester said. "They go out and play. Older guys like me and Lack (John Lackey) go in slow and try to take it easy in spring training and just be ready to go in April.

"But these guys are ready to go Day 1 as usual. The biggest positive on our side is that we have so many young guys who aren't banged up, don't have a lot of innings or a lot of at-bats under their belts, which makes it easier for them to rebound and be ready to go." -- Chicago Tribune White Sox more intriguing this spring, but Cubs still command biggest stage By David Haugh Mapquest says 29 miles separate Mesa and Glendale, Ariz., but as everyone back in Chicago knows, the gap between the Cubs and White Sox perhaps never has been greater and the size of their dots on the baseball map seldom more disparate. As both teams officially report to their respective facilities this weekend, everything about the reigning World Series champion Cubs again revolves around the idea of succeeding now, while the Sox wisely — if a little reluctantly — chose to focus on winning later. The difference in approaches by our city's baseball teams contrasts as sharply as Bridgeport and Wrigleyville. And nobody's really complaining. Maybe that's the most unusual part of this spring training, the quiet acceptance. For the Cubs, spring training 2017 feels more like the postscript to the greatest story in sports than a preview of the upcoming season, every interview part of a six-week documentary about celebrating the World Series more than preparing for opening day. The party moved from Progressive Field but never really stopped, and the offseason felt like it was shorter than one of David Ross' answers about retirement. Manager Joe Maddon barely had enough time to get over being second-guessed in Game 7. Indeed, the weeks have flown at an unprecedented speed since Nov. 2, connected by continuous talk of Cubs appearances, a Cubs dynasty, Cubs trades, Cubs tattoos and Cubs memorabilia for sale, which reminds me to finish that loan application to afford an authentic Wrigley Field seat. The Cubs revved up the locals at the Cubs Convention and raced to the White House before former President Barack Obama left, leaving mere weeks to mentally prepare for another memorable trip that begins in the Southwest. It's not fake news to report that the Cubs have every reason to believe this one will end in the East Room too. Players and team officials can talk all they want about turning the page, but the pictures and words look so familiar, with just as many exclamation points. From newly married Kris Bryant to freshly dyed Javier Baez, the Cubs remain just as lethal and likable as when the corks started to pop in Cleveland. Overconfidence appears as big of a threat as the Cardinals. The Cubs return a loaded roster that makes them favorites to repeat, even after the losses of center fielder Dexter Fowler and closer Aroldis Chapman that have been largely ignored amid the happy talk. New fifth starter Mike Montgomery wants to warrant the confidence in him after only 23 career starts, and 38-year-old John Lackey needs to look younger than he did in a shaky postseason. Chapman replacement Wade Davis must stay healthy, and light-hitting, $28 million outfielder Jason Heyward hopefully can streamline a swing more complicated than the tax code. But overall, solutions outnumber problems for a team that still has Maddon, already a Chicago legend. Nobody needs to get too worked up over where Baez plays or how many games Kyle Schwarber, baseball battering ram, catches. Schwarber proved how little spring training means when he went from rehabbing his knee for months to creating World Series lore in a day. When the biggest suspense before camp involved what slogan Maddon will put on a T-shirt, it said everything about how President Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer have rebuilt the Cubs.

Frankly, more curiosity surrounds the Sox, finally rebuilding after years of mulling how to deal with too much mediocrity. Page views won't reflect it, but the most discerning baseball eyes could justify watching the Sox more closely than the Cubs over the next six weeks. Manager Rick Renteria's young team actually needs the time devoted to fundamentals. If the essence of spring training focuses on player development, no team in the majors committed to a youth movement any more than the Sox. The unknowns added to the system offer a sleepy organization a chance to awaken as minor-leaguers Yoan Moncada, the best prospect in baseball, takes batting practice or Michael Kopech, the triple-digit fastballer, throws heat in the bullpen. Enjoy tracking the progress of pitcher Lucas Giolito, expected in Chicago sooner rather than later, and the Zack Attack — catcher Zack Collins and pitcher Zack Burdi, both 2016 first-round picks. Realize that shortstop Tim Anderson, bound for a South Side billboard after a promising rookie year, figures only to get better. Pitchers Carlos Rodon and Carson Fulmer, both recent high draft picks, will benefit from their baptism by fire in an organization suddenly deep with power arms. Something about outfielder Charlie Tilson's speed makes him intriguing too. The back of the baseball cards for Sox prospects impresses nobody, but their futures excite everyone associated with the team, which isn't done dealing. Each of Jose Quintana's starts could be his last in a Sox uniform, and the same goes for every home run Todd Frazier hits and every ninth inning closer David Robertson enters. Not only would it be an upset if all three are on the Sox roster after the trade deadline, but the inactivity would reflect poorly on general manager Rick Hahn after such a productive winter. It's conceivable the Sox could lose as many games as the Cubs win over the next eight months, yet, oddly, Chicago's teams arrived in the desert sharing something in common: Both appear headed in the right direction. -- Chicago Tribune Now a national brand, Cubs will be challenged to avoid distractions By Paul Sullivan The Cubs may wear the name of their city on their road jerseys, but it's a stretch to believe this is still just Chicago's team. A championship season, a slew of young, telegenic stars and a celebrity manager have turned the Cubs into a national phenomenon, much like the 1985 Bears, albeit without the rap video. Whether it's Kris Bryant's Red Bull video going viral or Anthony Rizzo showing up dressed in black at the Grammys, the cult of Cub is spreading like never before. "I felt it in the offseason in Las Vegas," Bryant said. "Didn't realize how many fans we had around the country, and I really got a sense of that this year. It's kind of hard to even go places. "In my hometown, I'm seeing Cubs hats everywhere. Driving my car down the road and a guy is running in a Cubs cap. I'm like, 'This is crazy.' It shows that what we did is something we can be proud of." It's hard to believe only two years ago, Bryant and shortstop Addison Russell started the season in Des Moines playing for the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate. Bryant is now a household name, and Russell may be on his way. "This whole fame thing is completely new to me," Russell said. "Walking into the airport, they all want autographs and stuff. Different airports, different cities. It's very humbling; (I'm) very blessed. I'm just a small-town guy, so it hit me very hard. It's very exciting, though." As the Cubs gathered for the start of spring training last week, visions of a repeat danced in their heads. But the spoils of victory also include new opportunities that can cause one to lose focus on the task at hand.

Manager Joe Maddon isn't worried, knowing the personalities of his players. "I thought that was happening a lot last year, too, even prior to winning," he said of the off-field opportunities. "I have a lot of faith again in our guys. I haven't felt (it's an issue) yet." Maddon said media relations chief Peter Chase makes sure the players aren't barraged with things that take away from their primary job, and he said no one has "gone off the rails yet." "It's something that we're cognizant of," Maddon said. "Even for me, I don't want to do too many things right now either. I have things that I've got to do, but I don't want to do too much because if you don't do this job well, then none of the other stuff matters." Maddon prefers his players get their marketing work done before the regular season. Russell is working on deals with Pepsi and Audi, while Rizzo has endorsed BodyArmor sports drink and Buona Beef and filmed a video Friday at Sloan Park for Reynolds Wrap. Rizzo also just finished a digital commercial for Tyson Foods called "Legends of the Grill" in which he grills Hillshire Farm sausages with David Ortiz. "There is a lot more content being done (in digital videos), plus it gives them a lot more of an opportunity to capture more of stuff with the guys," said Marc Pollack, Rizzo's agent. "A guy like Anthony, to really see his personality is easier in a bunch of 30-second clips as opposed to one 20-second commercial." Russell has a much quieter, lower-key personality than Rizzo, but he's starting to become more outgoing as his reputation grows. "The opportunities are coming, which are great," Russell said. "It's a whole new playing field. I'm glad that I'm getting to see a different side of baseball where I can actually find a couple talents off the baseball field." Is he honing his acting skills? "If you break me out of my shell, maybe," he said with a grin. "Not sure I've reached that point in my life where I could just throw it all on the table. It comes with growth. Maybe if I get a few more years of experience, that may have to be another route. "It's all pretty cool. We've got great ballplayers, beautiful faces on this team. Just talent galore in this clubhouse, and that's really cool to see because these guys handle themselves like real troupers." Things have gone so swimmingly for some of the young Cubs that it's unknown how they'll react to any long-term adversity. It would be easy to get overconfident after so much early success, but there are no signs of anyone going overboard or becoming jealous. Veteran catcher Miguel Montero, who probably would be the first to burst the balloon of such a teammate, said he doesn't expect the Cubs to get too big for their britches. "I don't think that'll be the case," Montero said. "I had the same question last year, after we went all the way to the playoffs in '15. It was the first year for a lot of these guys, and I asked myself: 'Do these guys think this was easy, what happened? They probably are going to take a step back because of overconfidence.' "But they impressed me because that wasn't the case. They wanted it even more because they felt they had unfinished business, and that's what we did. And so far, what I see in the clubhouse, I see the same atmosphere, energy and hunger." The Cubs have always had a large fan base, of course, but now it's bigger than ever. While the Braves were the first baseball organization to call themselves "America's Team" during the early 1980s, when TBS was part of everyone's cable package, the Cubs also drew from a national audience thanks to Harry Caray and the WGN superstation.

But the Cubs' championship drought continued long after Caray's death in 1998, and in 2014 Tribune Co. stopped putting the WGN-9 Cubs telecasts on the WGN American national cable channel. Now they'll be regulars on national Fox and ESPN broadcasts after the Cubs-Indians World Series posted the highest ratings since 2004. "We know we've got a pretty good fan base and we're happy to play in Chicago and wear this blue," Montero said. "I know we're going to have a lot of eyes on us, but we knew that last year as well. So it can't be a distraction." The short offseason is over, but the aftereffects of the first World Series title since 1908 are still being felt. The players are ready for the new season while clinging to a moment no one wants to let go. "It's still like the World Series tour," Bryant said. "We've got to turn the page eventually, and this'll be a good spot to remember what we did but move on to the next year and hopefully do it again." -- Chicago Sun-Times Out on a limb: How Schwarber might handle catching after injury By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. — If Kyle Schwarber has any real future as a catcher, his brief bullpen session Thursday with John Lackey might have offered a glimpse into what it might look like. Think Tony Pena or Manny Sanguillen, only thicker. Schwarber, who was cleared this week to catch for the first time since injuring his left knee last April, caught Lackey’s session with his left leg extended to keep pressure off the surgically repaired knee. The Cubs aren’t counting on Schwarber to do any significant catching this season, and team officials probably would breathe easier if their prized young slugger gave up the position completely. But if Schwarber insists on continuing to catch, this might be how he keeps his knees intact doing it. ‘‘Tony Pena was really good at that,’’ manager Joe Maddon said of the former catcher from the 1980s and ’90s. ‘‘It’s a position you could take with less than two strikes and nobody on base. It’s something that a catcher can do to take some issue off of his legs or just present a lower target for the pitcher.’’ Maddon said he expects Schwarber to continue using the modified squat into the season and beyond, provided the count or situation doesn’t demand being in position to block a pitch or throw to a base. ‘‘There’s no reason not to,’’ said Maddon, a former minor-league catcher and catching instructor. ‘‘Actually, if you set up like that, it’s somewhat easier to hold a lower strike. It’s somewhat easier to hold an edge, being that you’re preset in that way.’’ Whether Schwarber will be allowed do much catching during the regular season is doubtful. Even this spring, the Cubs’ plan calls for him to catch — in practice or games — no more than once or twice a week. On Thursday, he caught only Lackey’s session. ‘‘And, of course, he wanted to do more, and we said no,’’ said Maddon, who indicated Schwarber only did that much after meeting again with the medical staff in the morning. The Cubs are counting on so much from Schwarber offensively this season, including being a significant part of how they replace Dexter Fowler in the leadoff spot, that they don’t plan to take any unnecessary chances on losing him to injury again.

Schwarber was hurt in an outfield collision with Fowler in his second game last season and didn’t play again until a surprisingly early return as the Cubs’ designated hitter in the World Series. He appears to be back to full strength and ready for the bulk of playing time in left field. And he definitely is ready to tackle the leadoff spot. ‘‘Absolutely, yeah,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘He feels great. Obviously, he always feels like he’s being held back a bit, and that’s good. But talking to him specifically and talking to the medical types, he’s good. He’s good to go.’’ How much that translates to going behind the plate this season — or beyond — is questionable. And it might involve where he puts that left leg when he does. Maddon was asked by an Arizona writer Thursday whether he could imagine Schwarber being able to catch as many as 40 games this season. Maddon suggested 20 might be possible — ‘‘I mean, if everything breaks well for him and there’s a need’’ — but was quick to emphasize caution. ‘‘The main thing is to have him in the lineup,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘The main thing is to keep him healthy. He’s a young man. There’s many more years to come, so you don’t want to jeopardize the potential to catch him in the future, either. All that stuff has to be weighed in making that decision.’’ -- Chicago Sun-Times Can Cubs stay charged with battery change when Lester pitches? By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. – Teammates have joked with Jon Lester about it for years. Lester even made fun of himself in a tweet in December. But the big left-hander’s problems throwing to bases could be one of the more serious storylines of the spring for the Cubs in the wake of personal catcher David Ross’ retirement as Lester transitions to young catcher Willson Contreras. “I’ve been open with it since Day 1. It’s nothing to hide from,” Lester said Friday. “You guys aren’t around us in the clubhouse very often, but it’s there. It is what it is. I’ll keep worrying about throwing it 60 feet, six inches. I don’t really know what to say about it; I keep going back to it is what it is.” For all but 2 ½ months over the last four years, Ross has been a big part about making “it” as close to a non-issue as possible – his back picks, disguised pitchouts and in-game adjustments becoming a significant part of covering Lester’s “yips” to contain opponents’ running games, especially the last two years in the National League. An even more significant part: the quality of Lester’s pitching, which had tended to keep hitters from reaching base in the first place. An All-Star and Cy Young finalist last year, Lester was a postseason workhorse for the Cubs in their drive to their first title in 108 years, earning a baseball writers award in New York for postseason MVP (after a 3-1, 2.02 performance in five starts and a Game 7 World Series relief appearance). If pitching is the most important factor in the Cubs’ ability to repeat in 2017, Lester might be the most important part of that. And in a camp with few questions to answer before the opener, Lester’s adjustment to a new catcher – and Contreras’ ability to handle the extra-curricular duties associated with that – might, in turn, be the most important storyline, at least early.

“I’m pretty sure I can do that. I have confidence in myself, and I know what I want to do,” said Contreras, who said he watched closely how Lester and Ross worked last season. “The big thing is I’ve got to get to know that guy over there [Lester]. He’s been great for the last three, four years, so we’ve got to keep doing that.” Manager Joe Maddon said he expects Contreras, the starter this year, to catch most, if not all, of Lester’s starts. Contreras caught Lester once as a rookie last season, on July 9, a game in which Lester lasted just three innings and Contreras threw a ball down the left field line trying to pick a runner off third during a three-run second inning in Pittsburgh. With Ross as his catcher, Lester has been an All-Star twice and won two World Series with two franchises. “I don’t think it’s going to be an issue,” Lester said. “Watching Willie last year, he did a hell of a job doing that himself when he caught those other guys, controlling the running game and throwing guys out, back-picking and all that stuff. “All it is, is communication, and he’s willing to sit down and talk and listen. And we’ll make adjustments as we go. We’ve got to get out there together and compete, and we’ll figure it out from there.” Helping the process is the presence in camp of Ross, who joined the front office as a special assistant after retirement. Contreras already has had his first sit-down with Ross in camp to go over the differences with Lester. “We’re going to have David mentor him a little bit, regarding the thought, the process, the conversations he’s had with Jonny in the past and continue to move it forward from there,” said Maddon, who suggested the club put most of the issue behind it last year by concentrating less on the base throws and more on pitching. “The big thing is Jon is so good at throwing the ball from the rubber to the plate, I don’t want to have anything get in the way of that,” Maddon said. “Willie’s got probably a little more arm than David has physically. I believe that the other team realizing that Willson’s behind the plate, the thought process will be very similar to with David behind the plate. So I don’t perceive an edge for the other side on that flip-flop. “The biggest thing for me there is just the person,” he added. “David’s knowledge and experience working with Jon. That’s going to be the part to me that we have to be aware of. When it comes to controlling the running game and all that stuff, I feel pretty good about it.” Lester pointed out that he had an adjustment to make with Ross, too, when they first paired up as Red Sox teammates. “Rossy and I just didn’t jump in and all of a sudden click. It took a few starts for us to kind of hammer some things out,” Lester said. “That’s all it really comes down to, is just pitching, time on the mound, time behind the plate. “Willson’s a smart kid, and he cares and he wants to get better, and he’s eager to please. I think he has all the attributes to be a really good catcher in this league for a long time. And I don’t think there’s going to be much of a learning curve.” --