July 12, 2017

Daily Herald, Rozner: Cubs math doesn't work without starting pitching http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170711/rozner-cubs-math-doesnt-work-without-starting-pitching

Cubs.com, Davis sees potential in Cubs' second half http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/241805972/cubs-wade-davis-looking-forward-to-second-half/

Cubs.com, Cubs, O's to begin 2nd half with Interleague set http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/241355012/cubs-os-to-begin-2nd-half-with-interleague-set

Cubs.com, Third-timer Davis plays for NL for first time http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/241589282/wade-davis-representing-cubs-at-all-star-game/

ESPNChicago.com, Real or not? Cubs cost NL the All-Star Game and other things you might have missed http://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/81233/real-or-not-cubs-cost-nl-the-all-star-game-and-other-things-you-may-have-missed

CSNChicago.com, All-Star Or Not, Cubs Expect Kris Bryant To Be Their Derek Jeter In Second-Half Push To October And Beyond http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/all-star-or-not-cubs-expect-kris-bryant-be-their-derek-jeter-second-half-push-october-yankees-world-series-mike-borzello

CSNChicago.com, Wade Davis Gives Up Game-Winning Homer In Mlb All-Star Game http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/wade-davis-gives-game-winning-homer-mlb-all-star-game

CSNChicago.com, Could Wrigley Field Soon Again Host An All-Star Game? Rob Manfred Says They're A Candidate http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/could-wrigley-field-soon-again-host-all-star-game-rob-manfred-says-theyre-candidate

CSNChicago.com, With Free Agency Looming, Wade Davis Knows It's A Great Time To Be An All-Star Closer http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/free-agency-looming-wade-davis-knows-its-great-time-be-all-star-closer

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Wade Davis gives up HR in 10th inning, AL wins All-Star Game 2-1 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/ct-all-star-game-sullivan-spt-0712-20170711-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Wrigley Field in mix for a future All-Star Game http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-wrigley-field-in-mix-for-future-all-star-game-20170711-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon’s celebrity golf outing will 'try not to suck' http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-joe-maddon-celebrity-golf-outing-20170712-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Juiced or not, balls are flying out of ballparks at a record pace http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/ct-home-run-increase-all-star-side-spt-0712-20170711-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio points to injuries for team's woes http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-chris-bosio--injuries-cubs-pitching-woes-20170711-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs could get ERA champ Kyle Hendricks back from DL this weekend http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-could-get-era-champ-kyle-hendricks-back-from-dl-this-weekend/

Chicago Sun-Times, MLB commissioner: Wrigley Field to host All-Star Game in ‘near future’ http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/mlb-all-star-game-at-wrigley-field-in-near-future/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs pitching coach says Kyle Hendricks is becoming game-ready http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-pitching-coach-says-kyle-hendricks-is-becoming-game-ready/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ Joe Maddon gets nod from National Bobblehead Hall of Fame http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-joe-maddon-receives-nod-from-national-bobblehead-hall-of-fame/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ Wade Davis allows HR in 10th, gets the loss in All-Star Game http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-wade-davis-gives-up-a-long-ball-gets-the-loss-in-all-star-game/

Chicago Sun-Times, Vegas bros Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper reunited? What are the odds? http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/vegas-bros-kris-bryant-and-bryce-harper-reunited-what-are-the-odds/

Chicago Sun-Times, After Cubs’ success, Bears, Sox, Bulls are following tanking blueprint http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/after-cubs-success-bears-sox-bulls-are-following-tanking-blueprint/

-- Daily Herald Rozner: Cubs math doesn't work without starting pitching By Barry Rozner Raise your hand if you saw this coming. Sure, there had to be regression after a historical World Series run, especially within the starting rotation. It's to be expected. But the Cubs are the first champ to send not a single player off a World Series team to the All-Star Game since it was invented 84 years ago. Not a single player. That doesn't sound too good. Kris Bryant is the first MVP since Jimmy Rollins in 2008 to miss the Midsummer Classic. Wade Davis was the only Cub representing the team and he wasn't here in 2016. And while Davis certainly deserved it, not another player on the roster should have been in Miami this week unless they were looking for a beach. So, yeah. It's pretty staggering across the board as Joe Maddon spent a lonely few days in Florida. Aside from the bullpen, which has the fourth-best ERA in baseball and the fourth-best WHIP, there's little else that has gone right the first half of the baseball season. On a roster filled with great players, there has been much mediocrity and lots of bad.

Bad defense, bad pitching and bad offensive production. In Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement, Jon Lester posted a 5.3 a year ago, the third best of his career. He's currently below zero. Kyle Hendricks was a 5.0 in 2016 and he's at 0.6 while rehabbing a hand injury. Jake Arrieta was a 3.4 last season and he's at zero. John Lackey was a 2.5 pitcher a year ago and he's a negative 0.3 this season. Jason Hammel was a 1.1 for the Cubs in 2016. Among the fifth starters this year, Brett Anderson is a negative 0.8, Mike Montgomery is a 0.5 in a mixed role, and Eddie Butler is at 0.6 in 11 starts. Not a lot of mystery here. The starting rotation led all of baseball in just about everything last year and there has been a huge drop off. Maybe most telling is innings pitched, where the Cubs' rotation is 25th in baseball. They have given up almost a run per inning in the first this year -- the worst in baseball -- after being fourth a year ago, and it's not a lot of fun for the hitters when you're consistently down early. The Cubs are 25th in quality starts after being tied for first in 2016. Carl Edwards (1.1) and Davis (1.0) are the only pitchers on staff as high as 1 win. Yes, the Cubs miss Dexter Fowler's 4.2 WAR from 2016. It was good for fourth among Cubs position players, but he didn't fit the long-term plan at that price and at his age (31), and Fowler is at 0.5 this season while battling injuries. As for the rest of the lineup, Bryant (3.0) posted a 7.7 last year, Anthony Rizzo (2.9) is pretty much on pace with his 5.9 from last year, and Willson Contreras is at 2.1 in 79 games after a 1.8 in 76 games last year. Addison Russell is at 1.8, not terribly far from his 4.3 pace of 2016, but Ben Zobrist (0.4) has much ground to make up from a 3.9 last year and Javy Baez (1.0) is well off his 3.4 from the title season. Jason Heyward is at 1.5 after 1.6 a year ago, Albert Almora is at 0.5 after 0.7 last season and Ian Happ has chipped in with a 1.2 in 51 games. Kyle Schwarber is dead last on the roster with a negative 0.6. Yikes. If there's good news, it's that there should be a run coming. It seems absurd to think that so many good players will have a full season at so much less than a reasonable expectation, all at the same time. That being the case, a few of these guys ought to get hot and that should mean a good month or two in which more than one or two hitters catch fire. But without some decent starting pitching, you can add it up any way you want and the math just doesn't work. If the Cubs don't get some quality starts in the second half, nothing else is going to matter all that much. --

Cubs.com Davis sees potential in Cubs' second half By Jesse Sanchez MIAMI -- Cubs closer Wade Davis spent the better part of the past two days answering questions about being the lone player at the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard from the defending World Series champs despite the fact that he was not even on last year's team. Davis listened as he was constantly reminded that last year's National League roster had six Cubs, including the starting infield. He was reminded that the Cubs are the first World Series-winning team in more than a decade to have only one player at the All-Star Game the following year since Albert Pujols was the Cardinals' only representative in the 2007 Midsummer Classic. A different set of questions surfaced Tuesday night. Davis' manager and National League skipper Joe Maddon inserted the right-hander into the game in the top of the 10th inning with the scored tied at 1. All Davis did was give up a home run to Seattle's Robinson Cano, the first batter he faced, to give the American League a 2-1 advantage that it wouldn't relinquish. It was the final score of the game. "I'm not too sure [on numbers against Cano], but I have faced him before," Davis said. "I pitched in the 10th inning and I didn't expect us to go 10 innings, but I got in there and it was fun." "Overall, I just thought the overall intensity of the game was very good," Maddon said. "Right down to the very last out, both sides wanted to win that game. Spectacular pitching on both sides. Not really challenged defensively. The pitchers were that good tonight, missing bats. Weaker contact. The pitching was outstanding." The Cubs reliever recovered to strike out Kansas City's Mike Moustakas for the first out and gave up a single to Detroit's Justin Upton. Davis fielded a comebacker off the bat of Cleveland's Michael Brantley to start an inning-ending, 1-6-3 double play. "This is a fun game and I don't think it has any meaning at all other than getting together and showcasing our talent," Davis said. Davis' work was done for the night. But there's still plenty of work to do. Yes, Davis, who is 16-for-16 in save situations this season, has been dominant all year. But it's been a challenging season for the defending champions. The Cubs have won consecutive games just once since June 6 and the club's record has hovered around the .500 mark (43-45) for most of the season. By contrast, the Cubs were 18 games over .500 (53-35) at last year's All-Star break. True to form, Davis is confident his team will bounce back in the second half. The Cubs resume play Friday in Baltimore with an Interleague series against the Orioles. "I think there's a finish line there. You can see the finish line, and that will be something where we can push a little harder," Davis said. "There's a lot of good players on that team who will probably be All-Stars after the second half, that type of deal. That'll be something that happens." -- Cubs.com Cubs, O's to begin 2nd half with Interleague set By Scott Chasen

The first half didn't go the way the defending World Series champions would've liked. The Cubs will have a chance to start to rectify that on Friday when they open the second half in Baltimore for an Interleague series vs. the Orioles. At the All-Star break last year, the Cubs sat at 18 games over .500 (53-35), and that was even after they went 6-15 to finish out the first half. This year's team has been far less consistent, stringing together consecutive wins just once since June 6 while spending most of the season around .500. Meanwhile, the O's, despite a 12-4 start to the year, have languished near the bottom of the American League East for the past few weeks. But they're not out of it, either. With so many teams in the AL hovering around the .500 mark, the club is in the mix for a Wild Card spot. Kevin Gausman will look to get Baltimore off on the right foot to begin the second half. The right-hander is 5-7 with a 5.85 ERA. The Cubs will counter with Mike Montgomery, who's 1-6 with a 3.65 ERA in 24 appearances (six starts). Things to know about this game • Chris Davis (right oblique) is expected to rejoin the Orioles if he doesn't experience any setbacks during his two rehab games over the All-Star break. Davis, who has been on the shelf since June 14, has a .226/.320/.461 slash line this season. • The Orioles and Cubs have not played since a three-game set at Wrigley Field in August 2014. In that series, the Cubs took all three games while only allowing four runs. • O's manager Buck Showalter said he will go with Gausman and Wade Miley (4-7, 4.97 ERA) to start the first two games of the series. -- Cubs.com Third-timer Davis plays for NL for first time By Joe Posnanski MIAMI -- Wade Davis is not someone who messes around -- not on the mound, not in the clubhouse, not with words. So when asked how he would have felt if someone had told him before the season began that he would be the Cubs' only All-Star representative, he didn't have some witty reply. "I would have thought that I would not make the All-Star team," Davis said plainly. "And I would have thought that five or six of the guys would." No, Wade Davis does not play around. This could be why, as the Cubs play in-and-out baseball in the wake of their extraordinary World Series run, Davis is the one at the 88th All-Star Game presented by Mastercard (tonight, 6:30 CT on FOX). Chicago manager Joe Maddon calls Davis his anchor, the team's most consistent force in the first half. Davis is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA, he is striking out 13 batters per nine innings, and he is 16-for-16 in save opportunities. It is his third straight All-Star appearance. The first two, though, were with the Royals, where he teamed up with Greg Holland (now a Rockies All-Star) and Kelvin Herrera to make up one of the most dominant bullpens in baseball history. "We had a swagger," Davis said. "Oh, it doesn't matter what uniform he wears," Holland said. "Wade is dominant." But this year's All-Star theme for Davis is different because he is here alone (the Cubs' entire infield started last year's game), and that reflects Chicago's surprisingly lackluster first half. Again and again, Davis was asked questions about that and about his own surprise at the Cubs' losing record.

And again, Wade Davis didn't play around. He absolutely doesn't expect the losing record to last. "I can't really speak to what it has been like for the guys, because I wasn't here last year," Davis said. "All I can do is tell you what it was like for me last year [after the Royals had won the 2015 World Series]. I had some fatigue, and I went on the DL. But you work through it. "I think you're going to see a lot of guys have All-Star second halves. These guys are way too good. I've watched the way they take batting practice. I've watched the way they take infield. I've seen how they carry themselves. They'll be fine. They'll be twice as good in the second half. That's how baseball is. It will even out." As for Davis, he is a free agent at the end of the season. That's another thing he said he does not spend a lot of time worrying about. And unlike others who say those sorts of things, you can believe him. In Kansas City, he was often called a Cyborg for the seemingly emotionless way he went about his business of getting hitters out. Maddon has said that his favorite story about his closer was the time Davis went hunting in Canada and came across a black bear. He did not flinch and he did not back down. Still, Davis said he actually expects to be a little nervous should he come in to pitch during tonight's All-Star Game -- he says that pitching in the 2015 Midsummer Classic was the most nervous he had ever been on the mound. "It's strange," Davis said. "You're trying to win, but you know it's something more. You're not on your own team, but you're facing the greatest players in the world, some who will be in the Hall of Fame. Yeah, I was really nervous for that. I'm sure I'll be nervous again if I pitch." -- ESPNChicago.com Real or not? Cubs cost NL the All-Star Game and other things you might have missed By David Schoenfield Yes, it has been that kind of year for the Chicago Cubs. With Joe Maddon managing the National League All-Stars, he brought in Wade Davis -- the lone Cubs player on the team -- in the top of the 10th inning ... and Davis promptly gave up a home run to Robinson Cano, who lined a 1-1 curveball to right field for the winning run in the American League's 2-1 victory. In a night dominated by both pitching staffs, the game had a bit of an anticlimactic feeling following Monday's Home Run Derby. But it certainly wasn't a surprise that in the Year of the Home Run, it would finally be decided by a homer. What was surprising is that it came off Davis, who has allowed just one home run in 30 innings this season and just four over 212⅓ innings over the past four seasons. Cano's homer was the fourth in extra innings in All-Star history, and the previous three were all hit by Hall of Famers: Red Schoendienst in 1950, Stan Musial in 1955 and Tony Perez in 1967. Even cooler: Perez was in the park to be part of the pregame ceremony as one of the eight Latin Hall of Famers who threw out the first pitch. A few other items from the game you might have missed if your head was still hazy from watching Aaron Judge's 500-foot bombs on Monday: Justin Upton saves the day. In a game that featured several nice defensive plays, Upton's diving catch in right field robbed Corey Seager of a potential leadoff double or triple off Andrew Miller in the bottom of the 10th. Even more remarkable: Upton hadn't played right field in the regular season since 2013. Also noteworthy is that Cano and Upton were both injury replacements, Cano for Starlin Castro and Upton for Mike Trout. Their heroics also evened up the all-time All-Star ledger at 43 wins apiece (although the AL has won 17 of the past 20, with one tie). And get this: Both leagues have scored 361 runs. Sometimes you can't make this stuff up.

Yadier Molina's helmet and chest protector was pretty much the most awesome thing ever. Salvador Perez unveiled his gold-colored glove Monday, but Molina topped him with an outfit straight from a Ridley Scott movie. Maybe Molina should make this a permanent thing. In his first at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning he tied the score at 1-1 with a home run to right-center off a 2-2 fastball from Ervin Santana. Nelson Cruz is a big fan of Joe West. Now that the All-Star Game doesn't matter, the trendy thing will be what fun things players will do doing during the game to create the moment that creates a buzz on social media. Cruz wins honors this year for walking to the plate, pulling a cellphone out of his back pocket, handing the phone to Molina and posing for a photo with West, the umpire. You read that right. He didn't pose with Molina but with an umpire. Maybe Cruz is just a big fan of West's country music and wanted a picture with his favorite musician. Bryce Harper's shoes. Nice Jose Fernandez tribute from the Nationals' right fielder, who always pulls out the special cleats at All-Star time: Harper put the shoes in action, making a diving catch on Perez's soft liner to end the second inning, losing his hat in the process then flipping his hair back to get it out of his face. He was also one of the players mic'd up during the game, as the "this time it doesn't count" theme allowed Fox to conduct in-game interviews. Harper was one of those most vocal about just wanting to come to the All-Star Game and having some fun for a couple of days, even proposing a draft so he could face Max Scherzer. Now that the game is back to being just an exhibition, well ... maybe we do need it to count. Look, the idea of the All-Star Game determining World Series home-field advantage was always a little absurd. Here's my idea, stolen from a fantasy league I'm in: Home field would be determined by three factors: (1) Best regular-season record, (2) The league that fares better in interleague play and (3) All-Star Game winner. Whatever team wins two of the three categories gets home-field advantage. So the All-Star Game could be the decisive third factor in some years, and thus of some importance. Plus, it at least gives us an excuse for complaining when Judge doesn't play the whole game. Speaking of the Big Guy... Judge went 0-for-3 in his All-Star debut, although his impressive victory in the Home Run Derby still made him the star of the week's All-Star festivities. In his showdown against Scherzer in the first inning, the Nationals' ace showed respect by starting Judge off with a slider for a called strike. Judge managed to work the count full before swinging and missing on a slider perfectly placed on the outside corner. No, they don't throw those during the Derby. Facing Carlos Martinez in his second at-bat, the Cardinals' right-hander challenged Judge with four pitches clocked at 100 mph, 99.9, 100.1 and 99.2, respectively, with Judge swinging at the fourth one and grounding out to shortstop. He then faced Dodgers lefty Alex Wood and sent a 1-2 changeup to medium-deep right-center, eliciting a momentary rush of excitement from the crowd, but Charlie Blackmon hauled the ball in just short of the warning track. Don't run on Mookie. Nolan Arenado learned what AL players already know: Mookie Betts has one of the best arms in the league. Betts was in center field with Arenado on first with no outs in the fourth inning when Ryan Zimmerman hit a fly ball to the warning track. Arenado tried to tag up from first, but Betts delivered a rocket measured at 93.1 mph, easily nailing Arenado for the double play. Stand Up To Cancer. Nice moment from Rockies players Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu as they recognized teammate Chad Bettis in the Stand Up To Cancer moment in the fifth inning: Bettis underwent surgery for testicular cancer in spring training but is on the mend and will make his first rehab start Thursday for the Hartford Yard Goats. He'll throw 30 pitches, simulating a first spring training start and gradually work back up to 90-95 pitches over six weeks.

Pitch of the day. Dellin Betances, who has walked 26 batters in 28 1/3 innings, struggled again with his control, walking two and throwing two wild pitches in his inning of work -- although he escaped without giving up any runs. He did, however, throw this pitch to Daniel Murphy: Baseball fever, catch it. Given the price of All-Star tickets, why would you leave early? Fans started trickling out in the seventh inning, and by the ninth, Marlins Park was about only two-thirds full: I always say this about the All-Star activities: You don't have to like it. Maybe the Home Run Derby isn't your thing and you don't like that the game doesn't seem to mean as much as it once did. Still, it's a three-day celebration of the sport and, especially in diverse city like Miami, a reminder of all the cultures that baseball touches. It is something that brings us all together, and that's an important attribute in 2017. -- CSNChicago.com All-Star Or Not, Cubs Expect Kris Bryant To Be Their Derek Jeter In Second-Half Push To October And Beyond By Patrick Mooney Derek Jeter is the headliner trying to corral enough heavy hitters to close a billion-dollar deal for the Miami Marlins, the sale of a dysfunctional franchise hanging over the All-Star Game this week in South Florida. Kris Bryant is the National League’s reigning MVP, not invited to Major League Baseball’s showcase event, an awkward symbol for an underachieving Cubs team that won’t have a single player from last year’s World Series winner there on Tuesday night at Marlins Park. But the glass-half-full look at the rest of this season begins with Bryant, whose relative downturn includes 18 homers, a .928 OPS that’s only 11 points from where he finished his MVP campaign and a WAR rating that still makes him a top-15 player in the NL. Bryant also possesses the inner drive, natural calm and sense of responsibility that draws comparisons to Jeter, a player he publicly patterned himself after while being anointed as the franchise savior, trying to deflect credit and attention and defuse controversy. “I think there’s a lot of similarities there between KB and Derek,” catching/strategy coach Mike Borzello said on this week’s upcoming Cubs Talk podcast, remembering his time as a Yankee staffer on championship teams in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000. “Derek’s focus, No. 1, was on the score. You never really heard about any personal achievements with him. “It was about coming here to beat the other team, day in and day out, whether it be with a great play or a bunt or a smart base-running play. He was always looking for some way to change the game in a positive manner for our team. “That’s the mark of a winner. They have to find some part of their game that’s going to effect the score in a positive way, whether it is defense or base running. Obviously, when (KB’s) swinging the bat, he’s a game-changer. But when those guys aren’t swinging the bat as well as they want, or getting the hits, they find a way to still effect the game and help the team win. “I see KB that way. When KB’s hot, he’s hot, great. But what about when you’re not? And how does that affect you mentally? You watch Kris and he may be the best base runner on our team and his decision-making is always on point.” Jeter is a far more complicated figure behind the scenes, but his brand became synonymous with winning, a baseball shorthand for how to handle yourself in the media spotlight, in the corporate world and in October.

For Joe Maddon, it starts with the manager’s only rule about running hard to first base. As much as anyone, Bryant represents an idealized version of The Cubs Way, one of their best hopes that this 43-45 start is a fixable glitch and not a system-wide breakdown of a one-and-done team. “It’s hard to throw him out on a routine groundball,” Maddon said. “How about his effort to first base? I mean, he’s a Rookie of the Year, MVP, (25 years old). Um, I don’t want to say he doesn’t have to do that. But he doesn’t have to do that. “He does it, every day, and he sets a wonderful example for this entire organization. Not just this club. I’m talking like everybody in A-ball, Double-A, Triple-A. When they tune in the game and they see KB turning a routine groundball to shortstop into a bang-bang play, what does that mean? “So when you go to spring training or guys come up and you talk about ‘Respecting 90,’ here’s the poster child right here, man. He does it as well as anybody. I always thought that about Derek Jeter. I see (Mike) Trout do that a lot. I’ve seen Jeter in the past hurt – bad foot, bad ankle – do that. And then he’d limp out to shortstop. The real guys do that kind of stuff and he sets a great example.” Bryant obviously has years and years to go before coming anywhere close to matching Jeter’s five World Series rings, 3,465 hits, 14 All-Star selections and no-doubt Hall of Fame credentials. But Bryant already understands his role as an ambassador, saying “yes” over and over again to media requests and signing autographs in a mostly empty complex around 5 p.m. on the day pitchers and catchers reported to spring training in Arizona. “What you’re talking about is franchise players have instincts,” super-agent Scott Boras said. “There are few of them. And certainly it’s not something Kris tries to do. It’s something that Kris instinctively knows to do.” Where Jeter dated models and actresses and enjoyed the New York nightlife, Bryant married his girlfriend from high school and likes to order in food and watch Netflix at home. Where this season already dented Kyle Schwarber’s legendary status and Addison Russell’s off-the-field reputation, Bryant is hitting .213 with runners in scoring position. Bryant’s ability to ride the waves without crashing is exactly what the Cubs need now if they are going to make up those 5.5 games, catch the Milwaukee Brewers and chase that kind of Yankee dynasty. “I just feel very determined,” Bryant said. “When things aren’t going my way, there’s just a switch in me that makes me want it even more. And sometimes when you want it even more, you end up going the opposite way, so it’s a fine line there. “But it’s just a matter of showing up and competing. You are the player who you are and things usually work out in the end. I think that goes for everybody in this clubhouse.” -- CSNChicago.com Wade Davis Gives Up Game-Winning Homer In Mlb All-Star Game By Staff Wade Davis has been lights out for the Cubs so far this season, and earned a well-deserved third straight All-Star nomination as a closer. But the team's lone representative suffered the loss in Tuesday's MLB All-Star Game after allowing an extra-innings solo homer to Robinson Cano, who went on to win the MVP after securing a 2-1 victory for the American League. Davis has given up only one homer in the last two seasons, which goes to show you how rare of an occasion this was. The good news is, Davis is still one of only two regular closers in the league who has yet to blow a save this season, finishing the first half with a perfect 16-for-16 in save opportunities.

As far as the All-Star Game itself, the AL improved to 17-3-1 over the last 21 matchups but the all-time series is all evened up at 43-43-2, with each team scoring 361 runs each. -- CSNChicago.com Could Wrigley Field Soon Again Host An All-Star Game? Rob Manfred Says They're A Candidate By Dan Hayes MIAMI — The All-Star Game could soon come to a city near you. Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said on Tuesday afternoon that the Cubs are among several candidates to potentially host the Midsummer Classic when the next three sites are announced. The All-Star Game is currently booked through 2019, which means Wrigley Field wouldn’t host the event until 2020 at the earliest. Manfred prefers to announce the upcoming hosts in threes and didn’t specify a schedule for the decision. The Cubs haven’t hosted the All-Star Game since 1990. “We have a group of clubs that are interested,” Manfred told writers at the Baseball Writers Association of America All-Star luncheon. “We’ve moved into a much more competitive evaluation of those various bids, taking into account things like the cities’ involvement, have they built a new stadium for their club, have they done particular things that are helpful to the club, the availability of key venues, convention centers and what not. The Cubs are certainly in the mix for that next up. I’ll probably do three at once, is my current thinking. They’re certainly in that mix, but there are way more than three clubs in that mix.” The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly also among the candidates. Dodger Stadium hasn’t played host to the event since the 1980 season. The 2018 All-Star Game is already scheduled for Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. while the 2019 contest will be played in Cleveland. -- CSNChicago.com With Free Agency Looming, Wade Davis Knows It's A Great Time To Be An All-Star Closer By Dan Hayes MIAMI -- It’s hardly the focus of his attention during All-Star Game week, but Wade Davis is well aware there’s no better time to be an elite relief pitcher. An All-Star for the third straight year, Davis is as dominant as ever with his own free agency looming. The Cubs closer said he thinks he has a better grip on how to manage himself and the big picture at perhaps the most important time of his life. That’s probably a good thing given the exorbitant salaries paid to closers this previous winter as Davis, 31, would appear to be in line for massive payday after the 2017 season concludes. Davis, who is 2-0 with 16 saves, 43 strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA in 30 innings, wasn’t upset to see bullpen brethren like Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman benefit from the relief craze of the 2016 postseason in the form of massive contracts. “Some of that seems unrealistic,” Davis said. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. It’s pretty crazy to even imagine that. But I’ve gotten better at only looking at tomorrow instead of too far into the future. It’s good for baseball that bullpens are being more appreciated or welcomed. I guess that’s a good thing.”

It’s a great thing if you’re a fireballer out of the bullpen who can shorten the back end of ballgames. The Cleveland Indians nearly rode the get-ahead-and-give-it-to-Miller-Shaw-or-Allen formula to a World Series title despite being heavy underdogs to the Cubs. Baseball was enamored by bullpens last October and November and anyone good and available has seemingly benefited. The New York Yankees rewarded Chapman with an $86-million contract over five seasons after helping the Cubs to their first World Series title in 108 years. Jansen, who has struck out 57 batters and walked only two in 37 2/3 innings, received a five-year, $80-million deal to stay with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mark Melancon also earned $62 million over four seasons from San Francisco, which desperately needed to solve its own bullpen woes after a spectacular months-long meltdown killed its chances for another even-year title. Davis has to feel pretty good about his own chances. Since he returned to the bullpen on a full-time basis in 2014, Davis has a 1.27 ERA and 277 strikeouts in 212 2/3 innings. Davis’ former teammate Greg Holland agrees it’s a different era for relievers. The pair was part of the three-headed monster in the Kansas City Royals bullpen that helped the team win consecutive American League pennants and a World Series title in 2015. That group is partly responsible for the trend of organizations placing a bigger emphasis on high-leverage situations. Both men could reap the rewards of a movement they started. Not only is Davis a free agent, but Holland could be, too. He could decline his end of a $10 million mutual option with the Colorado Rockies and join Davis on the open market. “Teams now are starting to understand that the sixth and seventh inning can be a key moment in the game, especially later on in seasons in September and October, when games seem like they’re bigger than just one game,” Holland said. “A lot of times that seventh inning is more important for the outcome of the game. Now you’re starting to see some guys getting recognition for that with All-Star appearances and higher salaries for guys throwing in the middle of the game.” As outstanding as he has been, Davis seems to be in awe of some of his peers. But he also appreciates his own role in the evolution of the bullpen. And without question he knows it’s a great time to be a reliever. “I think we kind of took some swag from that type of title (in Kansas City) and kind of built on that,” Davis said. “Just the sheer dominance of some of these dudes is different, too, though. I guess I can’t really speak so much on the history of baseball. You see what guys are doing now where they’re striking out 56 guys and not walking anybody and have got an ERA under 1 and it’s not a big deal. And they’re piecing together three or four guys on the same team who are kind of doing the same thing. It just makes it a different kind of formula.” -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' Wade Davis gives up HR in 10th inning, AL wins All-Star Game 2-1 By Paul Sullivan The All-Star Game returned to its 20th-century roots Tuesday night, pitting the two leagues against each other with absolutely nothing on the line. And when nothing really mattered, nothing much happened until the end when Robinson Cano homered off Cubs closer Wade Davis in the top of the 10th inning to give the American League a 2-1 victory.

Power pitching mostly trumped power hitting until Cano's blow, with 23 strikeouts, including 14 American Leaguers, and only three extra-base hits. Most of the pitchers threw in the mid-to-upper 90s, simply overpowering the hitters. "It's pretty incredible isn't it?" said National League manager Joe Maddon of the Cubs. "Not only that, but with command too, for the most part. "Look at the gun readings, they're very high, plus a little bit of an adrenaline rush playing in an All-Star Game like that." A crowd of 37,188 mostly sat on its hands, perhaps a hangover effect from Monday night's Home Run Derby, which eclipsed the All-Star Game in hype and interest thanks to Aaron Judge's moon shots. The game was tied heading into the 10th, with Miguel Sano's RBI single in the fifth giving the AL the lead and Yadier Molina hitting a game-tying home run in the sixth. Perhaps the game's signature moment occurred in the sixth when Nelson Cruz paused before his at-bat to ask NL catcher Molina to take a picture of him and plate umpire Joe West. It was the baseball equivalent of Ellen Degeneres' Oscars selfie, with "Cowboy Joe" in the unlikely role of Bradley Cooper. Molina obliged, then smacked the game-tying homer off Ervin Santana in the bottom of the inning to awaken the crowd momentarily. "I would bet if that game had counted he wouldn't have done that," Maddon said. "But overall I just thought the overall intensity of the game was very good, right down to the very last out. Spectacular pitching on both sides." As for the Chicago connection, White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia lined out to left in the seventh and struck out to end the top of the ninth, and Davis wasn't going to get in unless it went into extras. "I was pitching the 10th inning, and I didn't expect it to go 10 innings," Davis said. "But I got in there and it was fun." The decision to ditch former Commissioner Bud Selig's nutty idea of giving home-field advantage in the World Series to the representative from the winning league meant more fun could be had without either of the managers — Maddon and Indians coach Brad Mills — worrying about messing anything up. "Best record in baseball should have home-field advantage no matter what," Nationals star Bryce Harper said. "That's definitely good." This was supposed to be the game when Judge established himself as the face of baseball. Commissioner Rob Manfred pointed out that the ratings for Monday's Home Run Derby were the highest since 2009, adding, "I really take no credit for this." None needed, commish. It was all about Judge. Things got a little out of hand before Tuesday's game when someone asked Judge if he ever thought of himself as the "next Babe Ruth." Not even Sammy Sosa would have bitten on that one. "Nah, I just think of myself as a little kid from Linden, California, getting to live the dream right now," Judge replied. Judge may have had some fun, but he didn't make much contact against Max Scherzer, Carlos Martinez and Alex Wood, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout, groundout and flyout to center.

It was only a couple of years ago that Harper was in Judge's shoes, a young phenom with perfectly coiffed hair and a swagger befitting the new breed of bat-flipping, homer-gazing players. With the game devoid of any offense early on, Harper made a running catch to rob Salvador Perez of a two-out hit in the second inning, then fell forward to the grass as his cap flew off his head. Once he righted himself, Harper flicked his head back so his hair perfectly flipped backward, as if he was starring in a commercial for his favorite shampoo-and-conditioner-in-one. The only thing missing was Harper whipping out a phone and taking a selfie. Wait till next year. -- Chicago Tribune Wrigley Field in mix for a future All-Star Game By Paul Sullivan Commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed the Cubs are being considered for an upcoming All-Star Game, but stressed that several clubs are in the bidding process. The 2018 game will be held in Washington, with the 2019 game in Cleveland. Manfred is looking at sites for 2020, 2021 and 2022 — and may announce them all at once. The Cubs haven’t hosted one since 1990, when the All-Star Game was much smaller in scope and its limited space for players and media wasn't as big of an issue. “We have a group of clubs that are interested,” Manfred said. “We’ve moved into a much more competitive evaluation of those various bids, taking into accounts things like the city’s involvement, have they built a new stadium for the club, have they done particular things that are helpful to a club, the availability of key venues, convention centers and whatnot. “The Cubs are certainly in the mix for that next (selection). I’ll probably do three (sites) at once, is my current thinking. They certainly are in the mix but there are way more than three clubs that are in that mix.” The Cubs still need to upgrade their visiting clubhouse and press box to host a game, but both are part of the Wrigley Field renovation plans. The visitors’ clubhouse is scheduled to be done in 2018 and finished in time for the 2019 season. The renovated press box is supposed to be completed after the visitors’ clubhouse in the final phase of the project. -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon’s celebrity golf outing will 'try not to suck' By Teddy Greenstein Most of us suck at golf. We can admit this, right? So Joe Maddon’s charity golf tournament has a perfect name, borrowed from his day job: The 2nd annual “Try Not to Suck Celebrity Golf Classic” will take place July 31 at Bryn Mawr Country Club in Lincolnwood, six miles from Wrigley Field. The Cubs manager, who could shoot in the high 70s toward the end of his minor-league playing days, will greet foursomes, pose for pictures and hit drives off the No. 1 tee in the scramble format.

A host of former Cubs are expected to attend and play, including Ryne Sandberg, Fergie Jenkins, Ryan Dempster, Kerry Wood, Randy Hundley, Ron Coomer, Bob Dernier, Gary Matthews and Steve Trout. John Cusack, Tom Dreesen, Joel Murray are among the entertainers expected, and organizers hope that Bill Murray and Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder will find their way to the clubhouse. The event raised $250,000 in its inaugural year for Maddon’s Respect 90 Foundation, according to event chair Jerry Lasky, and is sold out for 2017. Ben Zobrist, Mike Montgomery and Miguel Montero played last year. Lasky hopes several current Cubs — the team’s golf nuts include Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, John Lackey and Kyle Hendricks — will opt to tee it up. Auction items will include a lunch withMaddon, a Cubs VIPgameday experience and golf trips. -- Chicago Tribune Juiced or not, balls are flying out of ballparks at a record pace By Paul Sullivan The debate over whether baseballs are juiced or not has dominated All-Star week. But Commissioner Rob Manfred dismissed the idea on Tuesday while meeting with members of the Baseball Writers Association of America. "We've done more testing on baseballs the last couple of years than ever has been done in the sport," Manfred said. "And I do know with absolute certainty that the baseball falls within the tolerance of the specifications that have existed for many years. Absolutely certain about that." Home runs and strikeouts both are accumulating at a record pace, continuing a recent trend. The total of 1,101 home runs in June was a major-league monthy record, topping the 1,069 in May 2000, during the so-called Steroid Era before drug-testing. Manfred defended the drug-testing program, saying there's "more testing than ever," and said baseball is looking into what is possibly causing the surge. He believes "dramatic changes to the way the game is taught and played at the big-league level" is a big factor, pointing to the proliferation of power pitchers in bullpens and a "dramatic increase in tolerance" for strikeouts from modern day hitters and managers. National League starter Max Scherzer of the Nationals said the reason is simple — harder-throwing pitchers have made the hitters adjust their strategy. "The pitching is better at this stage than what it has been in the past," Scherzer said. "That has forced the hitters to become better. Competition raises everybody's level, and so the hitters had to become better hitters. The only way you're going to do damage to some of these (pitchers) is to keep swinging for the fences, keep going for the home runs. "The pitching is so good now you just don't see six consecutive singles anymore. Guys throw too hard and have too nasty off-speed stuff, so that model — let's just string six hits together and score three runs — well, that might not be the most efficient or best way to play this game. The hitters quickly identified, 'Hey, if we swing for the fence a little bit more often, we can actually score more runs. Instead of scoring three, maybe we can score five runs.' "That's why they're more willing to sell out for the home run and they're OK with their strikeouts. And as they're OK with that, that just makes power pitching more dominant." The idea of the balls being juiced isn't new, but it has gained traction since the June surge.

"I don't know, I hope not," Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor said. "If it is it's going to make me feel bad, because I think I only had one in June (actually two)." Lindor said he does feel a difference between batting practice balls and game balls. Even 165-pound second baseman Jose Altuve of the Astros has 13 home runs. "I just know when you hit it it's going to go," Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts said. "He tends to hit a lot of them, and they all go. You can't knock a man for what he does best." So what does Betts think of the balls? "I don't know," he said. "I just catch it when it's coming my way and hit it when it's coming my way. I don't think about the science. Guys are getting bigger and stronger. I can't do anything about it. Nobody can do anything about it." So speculation will continue, and theories are certain to fly through the end of the season, and maybe beyond. "Will we ever probably know the whole answer?" Manfred asked. "Probably not." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio points to injuries for team's woes By Paul Sullivan Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio will meet with rehabbing starter Kyle Hendricks Wednesday at Wrigley Field to map out a plan for his next start. Hendricks, who went on the disabled list June 5 with tendinitis in his right hand, threw 45 pitches over 3 1/3 innings Monday night in a rehab outing at Double-A Tennessee. "He pitched (well), felt good, said his stamina was good," Bosio said. "Felt good coming out of it, didn't have any finger issues, no lingering thing from what he told me." Bosio said he will get a couple of hours sleep after arriving home from the All-Star Game before heading to Wrigley to see Hendricks, and they'll have a plan of attack after consulting with general manager Jed Hoyer, President Theo Epstein and manager Joe Maddon. How Hendricks feels will determine whether he goes back into the rotation after the break or makes one more rehab start. Cubs starters have struggled as a whole in the first half, ranking 17th in the majors with a 4.66 earned-run average. Last year they were first with a 2.96 ERA. What has been the biggest problem? "It's everything," Bosio said. "When our position players aren't healthy and they're hurt, it hurts our defense. When our pitchers aren't healthy, to coincide with injuries on the defensive side … it goes hand-in-hand. Pitching and defense work together, and it's no mystery we have not performed like last year, but the bodies are different." Bosio pointed to losing starter Brett Anderson to back issues and Hendricks' finger issue. Eddie Butler hasn't eaten up innings, while Mike Montgomery is 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA in six starts, after posting a 2.50 ERA out of the bullpen. Bosio also pointed to Jake Arrieta's thumb injury as a factor. "We just haven't been able to fire on all cylinders and health has something to do with that," he said.

John Lackey has been inconsistent as well, with a 5.20 ERA and 24 home runs allowed before going on the disabled list last week with plantar fasciitis. "He has an Achilles' issue," Bosio said. "Have you ever tried to throw a baseball on one leg? There are things you guys don't know about that they try to pitch through." So why didn't the Cubs shut him down if it affected his performance? "I'm not the trainer, I'm the pitching coach," he said. "My job is to try to get the most out of them. There are 10 guys in that clubhouse that are trying to get through (injuries) because that's what they've done in the past. Maybe it just got to the point where the injuries were so much that you just couldn't get the results we were used to in the past." -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs could get ERA champ Kyle Hendricks back from DL this weekend By Gordon Wittenmyer MIAMI — The Cubs could get a significant boost to their starting rotation in the first series after the All-Star break if Kyle Hendricks’ encouraging rehab start Monday for Class AA Tennessee is any indication. Hendricks, who has been on the disabled list since June 5 because of tendinitis in his hand, allowed two hits and a run during a 45-pitch start. That could put him in play to return during the Cubs’ three-game series this weekend in Baltimore. “We’re going to see how he feels the next couple days, and then we’ll decide as an organization what we’re going to do from there,” said pitching coach Chris Bosio, who talked to Hendricks and the Tennessee coaching staff Monday night. “Everything went really well. He was really happy with it on a hot, humid night in Tennessee. He said his stamina was good and didn’t have any issues at all. But I want to see from my own eyes.” The Cubs haven’t announced their rotation plans beyond left-hander Mike Montgomery opening the Orioles series Friday, keeping a place warm for Hendricks. “We want to make sure there’s no lingering effects with anything, that nothing’s going on in the finger,” Bosio said. Hendricks was shut down after experiencing pain in the back of his hand, running down the middle finger, during a bullpen session between starts. “He’s a big part of what we’ve done the last couple years,” Bosio said. “I would love to have him back [this weekend], but we’ve got to make absolutely sure that he’s healthy and ready to go.” -- Chicago Sun-Times MLB commissioner: Wrigley Field to host All-Star Game in ‘near future’ By Gordon Wittenmyer MIAMI — If the Cubs can’t get players to the All-Star Game, maybe they can get baseball to bring the Midsummer Classic to them. The Cubs’ push for Wrigley Field’s first All-Star Game since 1990 was taken up by a fan from Chicago who asked commissioner Rob Manfred about it this week during an All-Star “town hall meeting.”

The commissioner suggested a renovated Wrigley could get an All-Star Game in 2020 or soon after and reiterated that during a Q-and-A session with the media Tuesday. “The city of Chicago and a renovated Wrigley Field would be a great site for an All-Star Game,” said Manfred, who said he’s not ready to commit a date for the Cubs to host. “There will be an All-Star Game in Wrigley Field in the relatively near future.” It wouldn’t be any sooner than 2020, the next open year. Washington and Cleveland host the next two. Selfie anyone? Anyone who forgot the All-Star Game doesn’t count for home-field advantage in the World Series anymore got a sudden reminder in the sixth inning, when the Mariners’ Nelson Cruz strode to the plate, said something to umpire Joe West and then handed Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina his cellphone to take his picture with the umpire. “First I was a little confused. I didn’t really understand what he was asking me,” Molina said. “The second time he told me, I was like, ‘Sure.’ ” Molina said it ranked as one of the two strangest moments of his season, along with a pitch that stuck to his chest protector in a game against the Cubs in April. “It was definitely different,” Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper said. “It goes to show you how much fun we do have as players.” Especially when it involves showman ump West. “It’s good when you see Joe West smile,” Molina said. Ross staying retired For anybody still holding out hope that David Ross’ foray into post-retirement semipro ball is the first step in a comeback designed to help the Cubs down the stretch, let Grandpa Rossy dispel that notion in no uncertain terms. “Honestly, I played catch with my son the other day, and it felt like my arm was going to fall off,” said Ross, who worked the All-Star Game as part of an ESPN crew. “There’s no chance of me making a comeback.” Ross joked on Twitter about “big news” that he was coming out of retirement to play in the National Baseball Congress World Series with the Kansas Stars, a team of ex-big-leaguers that includes former teammates Tim Hudson and Chipper Jones. It’s a one-time shot with old friends, he said. The timing coincided roughly with the Cubs acknowledging they’ll consider trading for a catcher after they cut ties with veteran Miguel Montero. “I don’t think anybody wants me,” Ross cracked. “I’m just hoping not to get injured.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs pitching coach says Kyle Hendricks is becoming game-ready By Staff Kyle Hendricks could be back in the Cubs’ rotation just in time for the team’s second-half push.

Pitching coach Chris Bosio said Hendricks, who started his rehab Monday, looked good but will continue to be monitored. Bosio said he expects Hendricks will be cleared to be in the Cubs’ first rotation after the All-Star break. Hendricks (4-3) went on the 10-day disabled list June 8 because of tendinitis on the back of his pitching hand. He reported the discomfort after throwing a side session in early June, and manager Joe Maddon described the move as precautionary. At the time, Cubs president Theo Epstein expected Hendricks to return in mid-June. “It’s something we do not think is serious or long-term,” Epstein said June 8. Hendricks led the major leagues with a 2.13 ERA last season. This year, he has a 4.09 ERA and has allowed 53 hits and 29 runs in 61 ⅔ innings. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs’ Joe Maddon gets nod from National Bobblehead Hall of Fame By Madeline Kenney The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a limited edition Joe Maddon bobblehead Tuesday. The 8-inch tall bobbleheads are only available for purchase through the Hall of Fame and Museum Online Store and cost $48. The co-founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, Phil Sklar said the tribute bobblehead was long overdue. In November, Maddon led the Cubs to their first World Series win in 108 years. Earlier this season, he notched his 1,000 career win as a manager. And on Tuesday, Maddon will take to the All-Star dugout to coach the National League team in Miami, Florida. “With all of Joe Maddon’s recent accomplishments, we thought that it was time for a unique bobblehead,” Sklar said. “We’re confident Cubs fans across the country will really like this new Joe Maddon bobblehead.” The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum debuts new Joe Maddon bobblehead. | National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum The bobbleheads were produced exclusively for the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum and are officially licensed collectors’ items. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs’ Wade Davis allows HR in 10th, gets the loss in All-Star Game By Steve Greenberg MIAMI — The question sat right in front of Wade Davis as if on a hitting tee: Was that just the perfect way to put an end to a miserable first half for the Cubs? “What’s that?” Davis said. “Giving up a homer to lose the game? No.” The Cubs closer’s lips said no, but the rest of the universe said yes. A quick review of the details: Davis, the defending World Series champions’ lone representative in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, didn’t take the mound until the 10th inning. The first batter he faced, Seattle’s Robinson Cano, took him deep for the winning run in a 2-1 American League victory.

An event that was drunk with Cubs a year ago — there were seven players on the National League roster for the game in San Diego — went on for nine innings with the only denizens of Wrigley Field in sight being manager Joe Maddon and his usual gang of assistant coaches. For about three hours, it seemed almost a sure thing that the outcome would be decided as though the Cubs didn’t even exist. But no. Not this season. Not in the midst of the Cubs’ 43-45 misery. Not even Davis — 16-for-16 in save opportunities — could avoid this high-profile chance to come up lacking. At least his performance in save situations remains unblemished. But he did get a bucket of All-Star defeat poured over his head. So did Maddon, who, thankfully, didn’t run out of pitchers in extra innings and have to turn a star position player into Miguel Montero or Jon Jay. “Not at all,” Maddon said. “We had it all set up.” Set up for defeat, anyway. But, hey, that’s Cub. Actually, that’s the NL in recent years, too. After 88 All-Star Games, the leagues are tied at 43-43-2 and have scored the exact same number of runs: 361. Yet the AL has won five consecutive Midsummer Classics and is 23-6-1 over the last 30. This game seemed, though, like a fresh start for all involved. That’s because it was the first All-Star Game since 2002 whose outcome wouldn’t determine home-field advantage in the World Series. That strange tradition — which had been in place since the infamous All-Star tie of ’02 — is over. And that means the All-Star Game again is less about which team wins than it is about individual moments and seductive spectacles. One came in the bottom of the first inning when ex-White Sox ace Chris Sale, now with the Red Sox, reared back — all arms and legs and inimitably sharp angles — turned the baseball loose and blew away mountainous Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton with 98 miles an hour of four-seam fastball trailing off the plate. Strike three. How could the White Sox ever have let him get away? Sale — an All-Star for the sixth year in a row, the first five of those with the White Sox — never looked like a bigger deal than he did while throwing two scoreless innings clad in the duds of a legit World Series contender. “It felt a little different,” he said. “I’m pretty excited to be wearing this uniform.” Also excited — not that that’s a big enough word — was Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia, his team’s only representative in Miami. Garcia made his All-Star debut as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning and went 0-for-2 at the plate. One of those outs might have been the hardest-hit ball of the game, not that Garcia was worrying about tough luck. “I enjoyed this day like the last day of my life,” he said. On to the second half. -- Chicago Sun-Times Vegas bros Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper reunited? What are the odds? By Gordon Wittenmyer MIAMI — Bryce Harper knew exactly what he was doing a couple of weeks ago in Washington when he hashtagged an Instagram picture of him and Las Vegas pal Kris Bryant and their wives with “#Back2BackOneDay.” “Just stirring the pot,” Harper said with a smile. “That’s what I do best.”

That stewpot was started earlier last month when baseball writer Peter Gammons said on 670 The Score that Harper had told people close to him that he wanted to sign with the Cubs as a free agent after next season but that it probably wouldn’t happen. “I have no idea what he was talking about or what was going on,” said Harper, the Nationals’ five-time All-Star, who was the leading vote-getter for Tuesday night’s game. “I have no clue. But everybody’s got an opinion.” That has been Harper’s stock answer ever since. But Bryant, the Cubs’ reigning National League MVP, has said he and Harper have at least casually played the what-if game on the subject. And everybody in baseball seems to have an opinion on uniting the left-right pair of MVP sluggers in the middle of the same lineup. The consensus opinion is that Cubs fans can forget about it happening in Chicago when Harper gets what many expect to be baseball’s first $400 million contract after next season. Here’s another opinion: “I hope they’ll be joining L.A.,” Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen said. “That’s got a chance to transform somebody into a super team. I mean, if we have a team like us, and then add them two in it, with the best pitcher on the planet [Clayton Kershaw], it’ll be great. It’ll be fun to watch.” Certainly, nobody spends more money than the Dodgers these days. Maybe the idea isn’t as crazy as some would have you believe. Which brings up another opinion: “It would certainly be cool,” Bryant said, “because obviously we grew up in the same town, we played together on the same team, so it would be kind of cool to do that at this level.” Harper after next season, then lobbying for Bryant three years later? In Hollywood. Or right down Broadway, in New York? The stuff of lights so bright and stages so big they would rival their hometown Vegas Strip. If it’s not the Cubs, it could create a team that keeps the Cubs from another title for a lot of years. “I think anytime hometown friends get together, someone’s always going to write about the interest level for them to some day play together,” said agent Scott Boras, the man who could help make it happen because he represents both. He conspicuously left out the fact it was Harper keeping the story alive just when the media seemed to lose interest. Boras downplayed the potential for it to actually happen. “They’re frankly too good,” he said. “They’re superstar talents. “The other part is that one will be a free agent before the other,” he added. “So the determination of that may have to be more in Kris Bryant’s pocket than it would be in Bryce Harper’s.” We already know Bryant’s opinion. What could such a modern-day Ruth-Gehrig, Ortiz-Ramirez pairing look like?

Like Bryant’s first-inning home run off Chris Sale in last year’s All-Star Game? Like Harper’s first-inning hit off Sale and third-inning walk Tuesday night? Like Harper’s diving catch in right field in the second? “Bryce Harper’s one of my favorite guys I love watching play,” Jansen said. “He plays the game hard and plays it right. He wants to win every day. I love watching both of them. Kris Bryant is a great guy, who plays the game hard, plays the game right. They’re easily going to be two faces of major league baseball. “Who knows?” he said. “I can’t predict the future. I don’t know what they’re thinking. If they want to do that, hopefully, it’s the Dodgers.” -- Chicago Sun-Times After Cubs’ success, Bears, Sox, Bulls are following tanking blueprint By Rick Telander A terrible thing happened when the Cubs tanked for about three, four years, then won the World Series in 2016. That wondrous Cubs ‘‘plan’’ presented a blueprint for building a pro sports team from ashes to the highest level, while never explaining to watchful fellow organizations that the plan is delicate, devious, needs more good luck than a leprechaun brings and seldom works. Yes, it worked for Theo Epstein’s Cubs. A miracle. Hallelujah! Take a bow, Mr. Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and — let’s see — the completely uninjured pitching staff, rent-a-flame-thrower Aroldis Chapman, the huge payroll and all the over-performing kids on the team who had no idea how crazy and pressure-filled their situation was. But now the Bulls, Bears and White Sox think they’re the Cubs. The woeful Bears will be presenting us with a roster filled with quick acquisitions, an unproven rookie quarterback who might not play and lots of plug-in-the-gap guys. The Sox have torn their roster apart because, as general manager Rick Hahn puts it, ‘‘Our focus is on doing something that’s more sustainable than one season.’’ I’ll interpret that for you: We’re tanking. What that means is: Yeah, we’re going to be lousy for an indeterminate time, but you’ll love the process (even though you won’t come to games) because, hidey-ho, the Cubs did it! (Note here: I remember when Chris Sale, the best pitcher in the American League and maybe all of baseball, was on the White Sox. Sigh.) Here’s the next issue for freshly tanking Chicago teams. The Cubs have a fan base that’s more loyal than Patton’s Third Army. A few years ago, you could’ve told them the Cubs were moving to Paris for a while, and Cubs fans would’ve followed them across the ocean like sardines. Now, of course, Cubs fans are spoiled and want more. But when the Sox or Bears tank, empty seats and anger result. Then, cynicism. Which brings us to the Bulls. They are most assuredly tanking, hoping for a record bad enough to get them into the NBA lottery with lots of Ping-Pong balls or frozen envelopes on their side.

This might go on for a couple of years. Who knows? “It’s always hard when you’ve had a level of success, and then you’ve got to take a step back and go in a new direction as far as a rebuild is concerned,’’ Bulls general manager Gar Forman said recently. “Step back,’’ “new direction,’’ “rebuild.’’ Though they could be boy-band names, those words simply mean “tank.’’ With young fellows such as Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn on the squad, plus old man Dwyane Wade — but no Jimmy Butler, Rajon Rondo or, for that matter, Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson or Bill Cartwright — the Bulls are an identity-free amalgam of who-knows-what. The good fortune for the Bulls is that, nearly as much as for the Cubs, their followers will come to see the team play through thick and thin. How else can anyone explain the sold-out houses at the United Center when the Bulls featured a 17-65 team in 1999-2000, showcasing the skills of Dickey Simpkins, Will Perdue and, yes, Ron Artest? You can’t. Except for the still-lingering vapor of Michael Jordan and his band of champions. At times, it still seems UC crowds expect the ghost of MJ to descend from the rafters and lead the charge to victory. The Bulls will do some more cherry-picking of various free agents and whatnot. Maybe a trade or two. But this team — with possible duds Cameron Payne and Denzel Valentine, plus slender, erratic bookend 7-foot three-point shooters Markkanen and Nikola Mirotic — seems like a ship missing a couple of sails from its masts. You look at that Summer League stat line that shows Markkanen and Valentine went 2-for-25 from the field and 0-for-18 on threes Monday against the Hawks in Vegas, and you stifle a shudder. The memory of skinny Brad Sellers, who was tall but “plays shorter,’’ as the Bulls put it, haunts your brainpan. Who knows, maybe even the Cubs will do a “plan’’ redo in a couple of years if all their 2016 success falls apart, as seems possible. For now, folks, you might want to get a lawn chair, put up an umbrella and sip a drink while you watch destruction and purported reconstruction all around. Because you sure aren’t going to see much winning. --