March 10, 2015

ESPNChicago.com, Olt, Edwards impressive in Cubs loss http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/29118/olt-edwards-impressive-in-cubs-loss

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs hurlers Jackson, Hendricks on opposite paths http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/29114/cubs-hurlers-jackson-hendricks-on-opposite-paths

ESPNChicago.com, Baez a work in progress -- but results needed http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/29106/baez-a-work-in-progress-but-results-needed

CSNChicago.com, Edwin Jackson can’t worry about his future with Cubs http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/edwin-jackson-can%E2%80%99t-worry-about-his-future-cubs

CSNChicago.com, Cubs: Joe Maddon hopes Javier Baez doesn’t feel the pressure http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-joe-maddon-hopes-javier-baez-doesn%E2%80%99t-feel-pressure

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Edwin Jackson fighting to change perceptions http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-edwin-jackson-cubs-spring-training-spt-0310-20150309-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Addison Russell may force the issue at shortstop http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-sullivan-addison-russell-cubs-shortstop-spt-0310-20150309-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Monday's recap: Padres 6, Cubs 3 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-gameday-cubs-padres-spring-training-spt-0310-20150309-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon blames self for Javy Baez's tough start http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-maddon-blames-self-for-baezs-tough-start-20150309-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Wrigley rooftops to court: Video board would kill $400,000 in ticket sales http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-wrigley-rooftop-group-sales-20150309-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs' $52 million question: Where will Edwin Jackson be in April? http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/427026/cubs-52-million-question-will-edwin-jackson-april

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs' Baez shows you can't spell "thinking too much" without a K http://chicago.suntimes.com/baseball/7/71/426544/cubs-baez-shows-cant-spell-thinking-much-without-k

Daily Herald, So far, three catchers not a crowd for Cubs http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150309/sports/150308793/

Cubs.com, Jackson begins making pitch for spot in Cubs' rotation http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/111906358/edwin-jackson-begins-making-pitch-for-spot-in-cubs-rotation

Cubs.com, Fowler, Bryant developing bond in Cubs camp http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/111912622/dexter-fowler-kris-bryant-developing-bond-in-cubs-camp

Cubs.com, Baez pressing, but Maddon 'really not worried' http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/111923222/javier-baez-pressing-but-cubs-manager-joe-maddon-really-not-worried

Cubs.com, Olt, Montero go deep, but Cubs fall to Padres http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/111906460/mike-olt-miguel-montero-hit-home-runs-but-cubs-fall-to-padres

Cubs.com, Another new skipper, but Coghlan finds familiarity in Cubs camp http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/111906894/another-new-manager-but-chris-coghlan-finds-familiarity-in-cubs-camp

Cubs.com, Schwarber's hustle draws praise from Maddon http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/111933298/kyle-schwarbers-hustle-draws-praise-from-cubs-manager-joe-maddon

Cubs.com, Bard's comeback progresses with sim game http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/111888964/chicago-cubs-reliever-daniel-bard-pitches-in-spring-training-simulated-game

-- ESPNChicago.com Olt, Edwards impressive in Cubs loss By Jesse Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- The Chicago Cubs lost to the San Diego Padres 6-3 on Monday and remain winless (0-5-1) in Cactus League play. The good: Kyle Hendricks, Hector Rondon, Pedro Strop, Justin Grimm and even prospect C.J. Edwards looked good on the mound. Hendricks gave up three hits over two innings but made some big pitches to Justin Upton to get out of a jam in the fourth inning. He hit 79 and 80 mph on the radar gun before striking Upton out on an 87 mph fastball. Fellow right-hander Edwards, meanwhile, pounded the strike zone, fanning two and getting a groundout for an easy 1-2-3 inning. The Cubs did most of their damage on offense in the fifth inning, when five consecutive batters reached, including Mike Olt who homered for the second time this spring. Miguel Montero also went deep. The bad: Edwin Jackson couldn’t pitch around a couple of errors -- including his own -- and gave up four hits and four runs in two innings. None of the hits off of him were cheap, as he wasn’t fooling anyone. Will Middlebrooks took him deep for a three-run shot. Jason Motte also grooved some pitches, giving up two runs on three hits. Anthony Rizzo was hitless in three at-bats and is without a base knock this spring.

What it means: Most of the pitching went as one might have expected. Jackson doesn’t have a major role on this team, so it doesn’t really matter what he does. Motte might be of more interest. The right-hander is still coming back from past injuries, but right now it looks as if he’s throwing batting practice -- though the radar is showing a mid-90s fastball. There’s plenty of time left to round into shape, but there’s also nothing wrong with keeping an eye on Motte moving forward. Olt might win Mr. March again, but don’t discount the changes he’s made. The at-bats are longer and he’s keeping within himself, as evidenced by drawing a walk after hitting a home run. He didn’t try for another long ball. Bard’s comeback: After a long wait to get back into baseball, pitcher Daniel Bard might be getting closer. The righty threw a simulated game Sunday and said he felt better than he has in a long time. “I’m pushing them to get into a game as soon as possible," the 29-year-old said of Cubs brass, "but they’re taking a more conservative approach since it’s been a while for me." Bard had surgery in January 2014 for thoracic outlet syndrome, which entailed removing a rib from behind his collarbone on his pitching shoulder to ease the nerve in that area. Now he might be right again after having success with the Boston Red Sox from 2009-11. He’ll need time in the minors, though. “It was good to get away and hit the reset button,” he said. More baserunning: Cubs manager Joe Maddon was still beaming Monday from Kyle Schwarber hustle in Sunday’s game against the Texas Rangers. Schwarber ran hard on an easy fly ball that ended up falling in right center. “He didn’t mail it in,” Maddon said. “Most of the time guys make it to second base and sometimes under duress. But he made it to third base, and I thought that was spectacular.” Having said all that, the Cubs have made some mistakes with that kind of aggression. The latest was Monday, when Chris Coghlan came hard around third base on an infield hit by Dexter Fowler. He was eventually tagged out, helping to kill a rally. Wada slowed again: After his one-inning stint Sunday, Tsuyoshi Wada has some discomfort in his groin area that might cost him some time. Maddon said it’s different than the injury that held him back a few days at the beginning of camp. Back to the future: Maddon was told the DeLorean time-machine car featured in the "Back to the Future" movies might be given away if the Cubs win the World Series this year, as predicted in the film. It’s only worth it if it comes with the flux capacitor, Maddon joked. “If it has all the bells and whistles, you definitely want to have that car,” Maddon said. What’s next: The pitching rotation starts over again, with Travis Wood scheduled to take the mound against Cleveland on Tuesday in Goodyear. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs hurlers Jackson, Hendricks on opposite paths By Jesse Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- It’s as if the two Chicago Cubs pitchers picked up where they left off last year. Edwin Jackson couldn’t make the big pitch, while Kyle Hendricks did. The results in their first spring training outings were drastically different.

Jackson started Monday and pitched two innings against the San Diego Padres. He gave up four runs on four hits, including a three-run home run by Will Middlebrooks. None of the runs were earned -- in part because of an atrocious throwing error by Jackson himself -- but that doesn’t matter. He grooved pitches just as he’s done in his two seasons with the Cubs. Hendricks, meanwhile, gave up some hits -- three in two innings -- but got out of trouble, inducing a Middlebrooks groundout with a man on second in the third inning and striking out Justin Upton with two on in the fourth. Afterward, the question everyone is wondering was put to Jackson: Where does he stand with the team? “Where I stand?” he repeated it back. “Time will tell.” Outings like Monday's -- if they keep occurring this spring -- won’t impress scouts, who will go back to their bosses and tell them no matter how much money the Cubs pick up, Jackson isn’t worth dealing for. The right-hander is trying to focus on the positive, but it might be getting harder and harder. “I’m here to help the team win,” he said. “Would I like to start? Yes. If I don’t start, am I going to go around and throw a temper tantrum? No.” And while Jackson has always explained the reasons why he’s struggled -- Monday, he left a couple of “balls up in the zone” -- he has yet to fix his problems. “You get your first taste of adrenaline and you speed it up a little bit,” he said. It’s the exact opposite of what Hendricks does on the mound. Why can the youngster slow things down, even in a spring game, and the veteran can’t do the same? “I think just preparation,” said Hendricks, who's set for his first full season with the Cubs after 13 starts in 2014. “They [the coaches] taught me your routine is the most important thing you have.” Jackson knows these lessons as well. But the 12-year veteran is evidence that knowing something and executing it are two totally different notions. Maybe there will be better days this spring, but can the Cubs really head north with Jackson on the roster? Would it be fair to Jackson to subject him to boos like those he heard last year, as well as at the fan convention? “It’s sports,” Jackson said. “People will boo in the first inning and give you a standing ovation in the seventh. I don’t let it affect me. It doesn’t get to me. It’s not the first time, it won’t be the last time. If you pitch well, the people that are booing will be the same clapping for you at the end.” Many will point out that Jackson is getting a total of $52 million from the Cubs, so he should be able to handle the boos. And they would be right. But that doesn’t mean it’s best for the team. Everyone realizes that. So the options are to throw him in as part of a deal and pick up almost every cent of the $22 million still owed, or simply release him. Jackson had his turn. He’s been to the playoffs and pitched a no-hitter. Hendricks flew past him last season and now has his spot in the rotation. The right-hander is ready for the next step. “It comes down to the guys that we have,” Hendricks, 25, said. “They make everyone in the locker room feel comfortable. It’s the loosest camp I’ve been around.” It helps to be good at your craft. And confident. Jackson has always tried to maintain a good feeling about himself, though it’s been harder and harder over the past couple of seasons. ERAs of 4.98 and 6.33 will do that to you. “If I can throw like I know I can throw, I can be just as good as anyone in the game,” Jackson said.

He needs to prove that. And time is running out -- though it’s just beginning for Hendricks. -- ESPNChicago.com Baez a work in progress -- but results needed By Jesse Rogers MESA, Ariz. -- Monday’s pregame conversation with Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon inevitably landed on the issue of strikeouts. The team that did it the most in 2014 had 12 in the first six innings of a 6-4 Cactus League loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday. The face of all those whiffs for the Cubs is infielder Javier Baez. He struck out three times on Sunday and has four in eight at-bats this spring after compiling 225 last year. “He’s thinking too much,” Maddon said. “He’s getting a lot of information from all of us and sometimes I think it’s our fault. I just want to leave him alone and let him play. I’m not concerned. The guy cares so much.” There’s a progression going on with Baez that simply may or may not end well. He struggles, recognizes he needs to make changes and goes about doing so. He drops weight, adjusts his approach and swing but the results don’t come right away. Odds are they wouldn’t. So now the coaches say they need to back off and just let him play. “It’s a long process,” Baez said before Monday’s game against the San Diego Padres. “(Yesterday) I was worrying too much about the mechanics so that’s why I was completely lost.” All of that is understandable. But when does it start to sound like an excuse? The Cubs can’t keep pushing the ball down the road for Baez. Not with a win-now mentality and players behind him who could get the job done better. “As we continue along I think you’re going to start to see him make his adjustments and become more comfortable,” Maddon said. “He’s applying a little pressure on himself right now. I’m really not worried. I’ve been around guys like him before. He needs to play and relax.” Again, everything that Maddon is saying might be true, but the process Baez is in the middle of eventually has to show results or we’ll look back on this and say it was a failure. Some probably believe it’s destined to be one, considering he’s shown little success so far. There needs to be some good signs, right? “I talk to him daily,” Maddon said. “Don’t make it complicated.” There’s nothing wrong with giving Baez more time. This is what spring training is for. Especially with a very young player who has made drastic changes. He did have one good early at-bat this spring in which he shortened up with two strikes and hit a fly ball instead of swinging and missing. Maddon might be trying to convince himself the strikeouts are going to come down for Baez and his team over time. He might be right. But until we see it, there will be skeptics. And they would be justified. “Another new manager. Another guy they’re trying to impress,” Maddon said. “Even though I tell them not to. I know they’re going to try to.” Talk will eventually get old. And they’ll sound like excuses. Not now. Not yet. But soon. Jon Lester said it over the weekend. “Time to grow up.” The Cubs need Baez to make more contact. If he does, he has a spot on this team. If not, it will be someone else’s turn. The point is, at some point the talk has to give way to production. That answers all questions. Maddon was asked if Baez is his starter at second base. “I can’t tell you that specifically but he’s definitely a very strong candidate for that position,” Maddon responded.

-- CSNChicago.com Edwin Jackson can’t worry about his future with Cubs By Patrick Mooney MESA, Ariz. — In a winter filled with off-the-charts optimism, Edwin Jackson got booed during the Cubs Convention opening ceremony. March 9 is probably too early for crazy trade rumors on Twitter, but it’s no secret the Cubs have been willing to kick in if it helps move the two years and $22 million left on Jackson’s contract. Jackson listened to those types of questions after giving up four unearned runs during Monday’s 6-3 loss to the San Diego Padres, which left the Cubs at 0-5-1 in the Cactus League. “I just worry about what I have control over,” Jackson said. “And I definitely don’t have control over whether I leave this organization or whether I don’t leave this organization. “The only thing I have control over is going out on the field and getting outs. That’s the only thing I’m really worried about. Everything else will take its course.” In front of 14,772 at Sloan Park, Jackson quickly worked through a three-up, three-down first inning. The second inning went haywire with shortstop Starlin Castro misplaying a groundball for an error and Jackson taking a potential double-play ball and throwing it into center field. Moments later, Will Middlebrooks blasted a three-run homer to left field. The Cubs didn’t give Jackson a no-trade clause as part of that $52 million contract. So far, he’s gone 14-33 with a 5.88 ERA, though new manager Joe Maddon keeps talking him up whenever someone asks about their run with the Tampa Bay Rays, and he's still a popular teammate in the clubhouse. “Joe’s a great manager,” Jackson said. “He knows what I can do. But at the end of the day, it’s what I have to do within myself to go out and pitch like I know I can. “Joe can’t pitch for me. Joe can have all the faith in the world in me and he can back me up. But…I have to take some things (on my own) initiative and get the job done on the field and in between the lines.” Would you rather be in the bullpen here or start somewhere else? “I’m here to help the team win,” Jackson said. “I’m here to contribute any way I can. Would I like to start? Yes. If I don’t start, am I going to go around and throw a temper tantrum? No.” The feeling in camp is it would be a major upset if Travis Wood doesn’t win the fifth-starter job based on his 2013 All-Star season and a projected comeback from his 2014 regression (5.03 ERA). Felix Doubront and Jacob Turner are out of minor-league options and maybe someone else will need pitching and take a chance on their raw talent. Tsuyoshi Wada can be sent to Triple-A Iowa and still earn his $4 million salary. The Japanese lefty is already dealing with some leg issues and will need to be stretched out to create some rotation depth. “If I don’t start, then I feel like it’s something that I didn’t do to allow myself to be in that position,” Jackson said. “It’s a fun time here. It’s a great group of guys. It’s a great organization. It would be a lot of fun to be able to come out and win a lot of ballgames with this ballclub.”

Jackson won 14 games for Maddon’s 2008 Rays team that won the American League pennant. He represented the Detroit Tigers at the 2009 All-Star Game. He threw a no-hitter for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010. He earned a World Series ring with the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals. For whatever reason, it hasn’t clicked with a Cubs team that now expects to be a contender. “I know if I go out and throw like I know I can throw, then I can be just as good as anyone in the game,” Jackson said. “But where I stand? I don’t know. We’ll see. Time will tell. There’s a long way to go.” -- CSNChicago.com Cubs: Joe Maddon hopes Javier Baez doesn’t feel the pressure By Patrick Mooney MESA, Ariz. – Joe Maddon keeps sending the same message to Javier Baez: R-E-L-A-X. That’s easier said than done with a new manager in charge, new hitting coaches offering advice and the same reporters wondering why you keep striking out. Baez is hearing a lot of voices in his head. The Cubs didn’t think this would be a quick fix, and it’s only spring training. But Baez hasn’t looked right, striking out four times in his first eight Cactus League at-bats. Sunday’s three-strikeout game against the Texas Rangers left Baez hitting .000, showing none of the power that made him one of the game’s most electrifying prospects. “I was worrying too much about the mechanics, so that’s why I was completely lost,” Baez said Monday. “But we will see how it goes tomorrow.” The Cubs have good intentions, knowing Baez has world-class bat speed and extreme contact issues, a combination that generated 32 homers and 225 strikeouts between Triple-A Iowa and The Show last season. “We just got to see the ball and react to it,” Baez said. “It’s a long process.” Maddon pointed the finger at himself and his coaching staff. “He’s thinking too much,” Maddon said. “He’s getting a lot of information from all of us. And I think at some point, sometimes it’s our fault. I just want us to leave him alone and let him play. I am not concerned. I’m really not. “The guy cares so much. He’s very good. As we continue along, I think you’re going to start seeing him make his adjustments and become more comfortable. I think he’s applying a little bit of pressure on himself right now, too.” When Maddon gets rolling, he talks about how nobody’s on scholarship, he doesn’t believe in the entitlement program and the kids are going to have to earn it. Has Baez locked up the second-base job? “I can’t tell you that specifically,” Maddon said. “He’s definitely a very, very strong candidate for that position.” Baez doesn’t think he’s putting too much pressure on himself or trying too hard to prove something to the new bosses. “Not really, because they know what I can do,” Baez said. “I’m pretty sure everything’s going to be right soon.”

Baez is only 22 years old, a first-round talent who had been Baseball America’s No. 5 overall prospect at this time last year. He clearly enjoys hanging around Manny Ramirez and learning from the world’s most famous hitting consultant. “Don’t make it complicated,” Maddon said. “Smile and relax a little bit. I think sometimes when a hitter’s struggling, they go up to the plate (and) they see everything. As opposed to: ‘Let’s just get this ball and take it right back where it came from.’ “Those are the better thoughts. As opposed to: ‘Are my feet OK? Are my hands OK? Is my head turned right?’ That’s the stuff that gets you in trouble. So it would be more specific: ‘I’m going to try to hit this ball back through the middle.’ That is the kind of thought that can help him.” Maddon visited Baez in Puerto Rico and watched him play winter ball, coming away impressed with his up-the-middle defense, base-running ability and baseball IQ. “They just want to make sure that I know that they care about me,” Baez said. “He told me to have fun and enjoy the game." Maddon praised hitting coach John Mallee and assistant hitting coach Eric Hinske. They’re all in their first year working together, coming off a season where the Cubs led the majors with 1,477 strikeouts, setting a franchise record at a time when offense is down across the game. “It’s been an industry-wide problem – it’s not just the Cubs’ problem,” Maddon said. “They got another new manager. Another guy they got to attempt to try to impress. Even though I told them not to, they’re still going to. “So I think it’s important just to create the same environment. (That’s) for me to stay within the process (and) not get out of my lane at all. Because that would really freak ‘em out. “Don’t forget these are young guys that lack experience, so you got to be patient, man. Really, I am.” -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' Edwin Jackson fighting to change perceptions By Paul Sullivan MESA, Ariz. — Edwin Jackson's four-year, $52 million contract is an albatross to the Cubs, as Theo Epstein suggested in October in a meeting with season ticket holders at the Oriental Theatre. "We wouldn't do it over again," Epstein, the Cubs president, told the group. "It's a mistake. But to Edwin's credit, he's shown up every day and worked hard." No one wants to be labeled a mistake, especially by the man who signed you. Jackson could have turned bitter after the remark, but that's not his personality. When asked after his first Cactus League start whether he'd prefer to start somewhere else than relieve with the Cubs, Jackson was diplomatic. "I'm here to help the team win," he said. "I'm here to contribute any way I can. Would I like to start? Yes. If I don't start am I going to go around and throw a temper tantrum? No, because if I don't start I feel like it's something I didn't do to allow myself to be in that position. "This is a fun time here. It's a great group of guys and it's a great organization. It'd be a lot of fun to be able and come out and win a lot of ballgames with this ballclub." Jackson didn't do himself any favors in his first start Monday against the Padres. After an error by Starlin Castro to start the second, he threw a double-play grounder into center, then served up a three-run homer to third baseman Will Middlebrooks. He surrendered four runs on four hits, though none was earned thanks to the errors.

Jackson is unlikely to get the fifth starter's job and is too expensive to be a middle reliever. The Cubs have to hope Jackson has a good spring and a team needing a starter will take him, assuming the Cubs eat most of the $22 million left on his deal. "The only thing I have control over is going out and getting outs," Jackson said. "That's the only thing I really worry about." Joe Maddon was Jackson's manager with the Rays from 2006-08, when he was part of their World Series run. Having a manager who has confidence in Jackson could help, but Jackson isn't using that as a crutch. "Joe is a great manager," he said. "I've had Joe before and he knows what I can do. But at the end of the day it's what I have to do within myself to go out and pitch like I know I can. Joe can't pitch for me. Joe can have all the faith in me in the world. He can back me up, but at the end of the day you have to get the job done on the field." Starting five: Kyle Hendricks, on the other hand, has a spot reserved for him in the rotation even though he pitched two innings of scoreless relief on Monday. Hendricks went 7-2 with a 2.46 earned-run average in 13 starts last year, after going 31-19 with a 2.69 ERA in four minor league seasons. Travis Wood should have the No. 5 spot, unless he's dealt. The other starting candidates are Jackson, Felix Doubront, Tsuyoshi Wada and Jacob Turner. Maddon said Wada has a minor groin injury and will probably be pushed up. K-Mart: The Cubs led the majors in strikeouts last year and struck out 12 times Sunday. Maddon said he's going to be patient with his young team, especially in the early going. "One thing I was thinking about today is these guys have another new manager, another guy they have to attempt to impress," he said. "Even if I tell them not to, they're still going to, so I think it's important to create the same environment, really for me to stay within the process and not get out of my lane at all, because that would really freak them out." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' Addison Russell may force the issue at shortstop By Paul Sullivan MESA, Ariz. — Hoarding shortstops seemed like a crazy idea in July when the Cubs picked up A's prospect Addison Russell in the Jeff Samardzija deal. They already had Javier Baez in Triple A and a 24-year-old star in Starlin Castro. But if Russell continues to progress at his current pace, he's likely to wind up as the shortstop of the future. What that means for the shortstop of the present remains to be seen, but it's a good position for the Cubs and President Theo Epstein to be in. Castro is a three-time All-Star with a team-friendly contract that makes him very tradeable. But Epstein seems comfortable keeping Castro and Russell, at least for now, so if they both stay, one of them eventually is going to have to switch positions. Obviously the best defender should get the spot, and scouts in Arizona say Russell already is clearly the better defensive shortstop. But Russell hopes to be in the same lineup with Castro, even if it means he has to be the one who changes positions.

"Wherever we end up, hopefully we'll be able to play on the same team," Russell said Monday at Sloan Park. "I think that'd be a good start. I think he's versatile because he's an athlete, he's a shortstop, and I'm versatile because I'm a shortstop as well. "I really don't care if I stick at shortstop. I just want to play every day and get my at-bats and produce and perform for the team." Russell has been taking ground balls at second on occasion and may get some time there in the Cactus League. But that spot is inhabited by Baez, who was moved to accommodate Castro. Baez, who struck out 95 times in 213 at-bats after being called up to the Cubs, has continued that trend, going 0-for-8 with four strikeouts. Manager Joe Maddon blamed himself. "He's thinking too much," Maddon said. "He's getting a lot of information from all of us, and I think at some point, sometimes it's our fault. I just want to leave him alone and let him play." Asked if Baez has the starting job nailed down at second, Maddon replied: "I can't tell you that specifically. He's definitely a very, very strong candidate for that position." If defense was the priority, Russell would start at shortstop and Castro could replace Baez at second. But the Cubs can't afford to damage Baez's confidence, and Castro is too established to change positions. Russell understands he's headed for Iowa and said he is happy to get a chance to play this spring. "It kind of is a big deal," he said. "It gives me a little taste of what it's going to be like in the big leagues, and hopefully I'll be able to get there. It kind of breaks me in a little bit. It's an honor and it's fun. You get to see these guys every single day, and see what is on their mind during the game or during an at-bat. It's a pretty cool thing." Anthony Rizzo and Castro are the two remaining original building blocks of Epstein's "foundation for sustained success" and have weathered a few storms together, as when former manager Dale Sveum threatened demotions to Iowa for both in 2013. "We do have an unspoken bond," Rizzo said. "We know. We put it on ourselves to be good and to be great, and we hold each other accountable as well. If one of us is slacking (we) pick each other up." Castro seems motivated to have a big season, and with Russell hovering at Triple A, he knows he can't regress as he did in 2012. Russell, the No. 3 prospect according to Baseball America, is paying close attention to Castro in his first Cubs camp. "He's just patient, he takes his time," Russell said. "I kind of analyze everything, so I watch a lot of things that he does. He goes about his business the right way." At some point, the Cubs will have to make a decision on who should play where. Until then, we'll all be analyzing everything. -- Chicago Tribune Monday's recap: Padres 6, Cubs 3 By Paul Sullivan The summary

Former Cub Andrew Cashner pitched three hitless innings in the Padres' 6-3 victory Monday, leaving the Cubs winless at 0-5-1. The Cubs and Brewers are the only remaining teams without a spring win. At the plate The Cubs reduced their strikeout total from 12 on Sunday to 10 on Monday. Mike Olt and Miguel Montero homered. On the mound Edwin Jackson gave up four runs in the second inning, though none were earned. Starter Kyle Hendricks threw two scoreless innings in relief and C.J. Edwards struck out two in a scoreless inning. In the field Dexter Fowler made a nice running catch to rob Justin Upton. Starlin Castro and Jackson committed back-to-back errors. Key number 24: Percentage of Cubs at-bats that have resulted in strikeouts (47 strikeouts in 197 at-bats). The quote "I don't really think I know I have a spot. I mean, I know what (Joe) Maddon has said. I've said it before — you never know what can happen." — Hendricks. Up next At Indians, 3:10 p.m. Tuesday. LH Travis Wood vs. RH Trevor Bauer. -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon blames self for Javy Baez's tough start By Paul Sullivan MESA, Ariz. -- Edwin Jackson gets the ball this afternoon against the Padres, with starter Kyle Hendricks pitching in relief. The Cubs are still winless at 0-4-1, hitting .244 with a .293 OBP after five games, with 37 strikeouts in 164 at-bats. Javy Baez fanned in all three at-bats on Sunday and is 0-for-8 with four strikeouts. Manager Joe Maddon blamed himself and his staff. “He’s thinking too much,” he said. “He’s getting a lot of information from all of us, and I think at some point, sometimes it’s our fault. I just want to leave him along and let him play.” Asked if Baez already has the starting job nailed down at second, Maddon replied: “I can’t tell you that specifically. He’s definitely a very, very strong candidate for that position.” Baez wasn't worried about his start, and said he's not putting undue pressure on himself. "When we're working on a lot of things and then take it into the game, we've just got to see the ball and react to it-- you don't think of any mechanics," he said. "That's what I was doing. It's a long process.... They know what I can do. I've shown everything here. I'm pretty sure everything is going to be right soon."

The Cubs led the majors in strikeouts last year, and Maddon said he’s going to be patient with the players, especially in the early going. “You’ve just got to be patient,” he said. “These guys are young. One thing I was thinking about today is these guys have got another new manager, another guy they have to attempt to impress. Even if I tell them not to, they’re still going to, so I think it’s important to create the same environment, really for me to stay within the process and not get out of my lane at all, because that would really freak them out.” Jackson will face ex-Cub Andrew Cashner, whose 2.55 earned-run average in 19 starts last year was seventh lowest among National League pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched. Cashner was traded for Anthony Rizzo after the 2011 season, and has been effective when he’s not injured. The Cubs remain general healthy, though Maddon said Tsuyoshi Wada has a nagging groin injury and “will probably” be pushed back. -- Chicago Tribune Wrigley rooftops to court: Video board would kill $400,000 in ticket sales By Jared S. Hopkins Records filed on behalf of two Wrigley rooftop businesses in their legal fight with the Chicago Cubs allege the team's 2,250-square-foot right field video board would wipe out most of the rooftops' group sales for the upcoming season. Marc Anguiano, a consultant hired by Lakeview Baseball Club and Skybox on Sheffield, said in court papers filed Friday that the clubs expect to lose more than $410,000 — about two-thirds of committed group sales — if the video board goes up and blocks views into the historic ballpark. The clubs on Sheffield Avenue have combined to sell 5,929 Cubs and concert tickets for the season that starts April 5, according to Anguiano's filing. To gauge the right-field video board's impact, the businesses contacted 31 of the 44 orders that were for at least 10 people — representing 2,826 tickets and $433,118 in sales — and found that 26 of those groups, accounting for 2,667 tickets, would cancel if the views are blocked. The businesses also sold 574 tickets on Groupon for $47,145 and 269 tickets on LivingSocial for $35,963. The websites' policies may entitle customers to refunds, according to Anguiano. The filings are the latest effort to shore up the rooftops' case to U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall, who cited a lack of evidence backing up claims of financial disaster for the businesses when she denied their emergency request last month to stop the video board's installation. Anguiano's filing stated one group promised not to cancel despite the threat of blocked views; four groups, representing 139 tickets worth $20,451, said they "might" keep their events; 11 groups of repeat customers have declined to buy tickets without guaranteed views; and six groups worth $85,697 in sales won't finish their orders unless views are guaranteed. Records from last year show Skybox on Sheffield, at 3627 N. Sheffield., and Lakeview Baseball Club, at 3633 N. Sheffield, combined for about $3.3 million in ticket sales for Cubs games and concerts in the ballpark. The rooftop businesses, controlled by commodities trader Edward McCarthy, have accused the Cubs of engaging in anti-competitive behavior and violating the terms of a 20-year, revenue-sharing contract that allowed the rooftops to charge admission to watch games from their bird's-eye views. They want the Cubs permanently barred from blocking views into Wrigley.

The team has asked the lawsuit to be dismissed. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs' $52 million question: Where will Edwin Jackson be in April? By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. – Edwin Jackson seems to be keeping his mind in a good place this spring even as he finds it hard to predict the eventual location of his name on a lineup card — or even his address. Not to mention any given fastball. “I just worry about what I have control over, and I definitely don’t have control over whether I leave this organization or whether I don’t leave this organization,” the Cubs’ embattled right-hander said Monday after a two-inning spring starting debut that included one perfect inning and one exceptionally imperfect one against the San Diego Padres. “The only thing I have control over is going out on the field and getting outs. Everything else will take its course.” Jackson, 31, on the outside of the Cubs’ rotation looking in – a candidate for the lone rotation opening but firmly behind favorite Travis Wood and staring at the possibility of becoming the highest-paid Cubs reliever since Carlos Zambrano in 2010. Jackson, who’s halfway through a four-year, $52 million contract, finally was bumped to the bullpen last season after spending close to two seasons as statistically the worst starting pitcher in the majors. He likely would have been gone by now if the two years and $22 million left on his contract didn’t make him so hard to trade. His name already has come up in trade speculation this spring, and that’s almost certain to continue as pitchers in other camps get hurt or the Cubs struggle to find a role for Jackson going into a season they expect to compete. “Would I like to start? Yes,” he said. “If I don’t start am I going to go around and throw a temper tantrum? No. Because if I don’t start then I’ll feel like it’s something that I didn’t do to allow myself to be in that position. “It’s a fun time here. It’s a great group of guys. It’s a great organization. And it’d be a lot of fun to be able to come out and win a lot of ballgames with this ballclub.” Manager Joe Maddon, who has lauded Jackson’s ability and said good things about his experience with the right-hander earlier in his career in Tampa Bay, rattled off his first four starters early in camp: Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, Jason Hammel and second-year right-hander Kyle Hendricks (who pitched two scoreless innings against the Padres). On Monday, Jackson pitched a 1-2-3 first inning. But in the second, after the first batter reached on shortstop Starlin Castro’s fielding error, Jackson short-armed a potential double-play bouncer for another error – and the Padres batted around for four unearned runs. Two batters after his error, Jackson centered a pitch that Will Middlebrooks drove on a line over the left-center field wall. “I know if I go out and throw like I know I can throw, then I can be just as good as anybody in the game,” said Jackson, insists he’s “not pressing or stressing about a game. … “Where I stand we’ll see. Time will tell.” --

Chicago Sun-Times Cubs' Baez shows you can't spell "thinking too much" without a K By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. – It’s only been a few games, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon already doesn’t like what he’s seeing from Javy Baez at the plate. But this one’s not on the kid, Maddon said. “He’s thinking too much,” the manager said. “He’s getting a lot of information from a lot of us, and I think at some point sometimes it’s our fault. I just want us to leave him alone and let him play. “I’m not concerned. I’m really not.” Baez, the slugging infielder who struck out last year at record rates at AAA and in the majors, already has struck out in half his eight spring at-bats, including three swinging Ks in Sunday’s game against the Texas Rangers. He looked lost at times, appearing to try different approaches at-bat to at-bat. “I was just trying to work and trying to make contact, and I was worrying too much about the mechanics,” Baez said. “That’s why I was completely lost, but we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.” Baez, 22, opened last season with a lengthy slump at AAA Iowa, then put together a strong 2 ½ months, leading to an Aug. 5 big-league debut. But he hit just .169 with 95 strikeouts and nine homers in 213 at-bats after the callup – leaving a lot to prove coming into spring training. “I think he’s applying a little bit of pressure on himself right now, too,” Maddon said. The manager and front office said during Cubs Convention that Baez wasn’t a lock to return to the starting second base job he finished last. And the common refrain among team officials since then has been “no entitlement programs here.” Every job must be earned. Asked Monday if second was Baez’s job, Maddon said, “I can’t tell you that specifically. He’s definitely a very, very strong candidate for that position.” Baez downplayed the idea he’s putting too much pressure on himself. “No, not really,” he said. “They know what I can do and I show everything here and I’m pretty sure everything’s going to be right soon.” For now Maddon wants to see the long touted prospect try to relax and clear his head of all the coaching noise. “I’m really not worried. I’ve heard about this for a while. I’ve been around guys like him before,” Maddon said. “The guy cares so much. He’s very good. And as we continue along I think you’re going to start seeing him make his adjustments and become more comfortable.” Baez is one of the guys Maddon chats with daily. “I’m just going to try to do almost what I did when I went to Puerto Rico [to see Baez during winter league play],” Maddon said. “ `Just go up there with a simple plan and try to execute it. Don’t make it complicated.’ “ --

Daily Herald So far, three catchers not a crowd for Cubs By Bruce Miles Early on, the big question in Cubs camp was whether three would be a crowd. The three in question are catchers Miguel Montero, David Ross and Welington Castillo. Most baseball teams today find it an unworkable luxury to carry three catchers, especially when they're carrying 12-man -- and sometimes 13-man -- pitching staffs. But early in the Cactus League season, here the Cubs are with three bona fide major-league backstops plus others on the spring roster. "You look at those three guys side by side by side, that's pretty impressive," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said at the beginning of camp. "You get three catchers like that in the same area code, that's pretty good." Heading into Monday's game vs. San Diego, the Cubs had used all three, with Castillo getting the most action. However, he's the one likely to be living in a different area code at some point. The Cubs traded for Montero in the off-season, ostensibly to be their No. 1 catcher, and Maddon has talked up his intelligence from Day One. "He's really into the sports-psychology component of the game," Maddon said. "He really gets all of that stuff. He's got strong opinions on pitcher-catcher relationships, how to call a game. He's well thought out. He really is. "Beyond that, you can see him swinging the bat. Here's a guy that plays. Here's a catcher that plays a lot of games. He's really an interesting cat. Physically he's not imposing, but he's a baseball player." Cubs management has done and said all the right things about Castillo, even amid whispers that he doesn't "frame" pitches well. Cubs president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer both have said they still believe in Castillo, and why not? There's no good reason to run down an asset in hand, especially when another team is just a foul tip away from needing a catcher in March. Long considered an offense-first catcher, Castillo slipped last year to a line of .237/.296/.389, but he did hit a career-best 13 home runs. Montero, by the way, had a line of .243/.329/.370 with 13 homers and 72 RBI for Arizona. He also brings the Cubs a left-handed bat. That brings us to Ross, who has carved out a nice career as a backup catcher. Not only that, he has served as the "personal catcher" to newly signed Cubs ace Jon Lester when both were in Boston. Maddon says he likes the concept of a personal catcher. "I'm not against it," he said. "It's a way of getting a backup guy into a game. I really like to have players know in advance when they're playing, especially those who don't play all the time. I'm' not opposed to that, quite frankly, because I've seen it work pretty well. "I'm sure David will certainly help the transition for Jon." For his part, Lester tried to downplay any favoring of one catcher over another. Oftentimes, a pitcher will develop a good relationship with the backup catcher, such as Greg Maddux did with Henry Blanco in Atlanta and with the Cubs.

Ross was the backup to Jarrod Saltalamacchia in Boston for the 2013 championship run. "I guess just being familiar with him," Lester said of Ross. "He was with the Red Sox in '08 and then came back in '13. I think a lot of it kind of got overblown in the playoffs. I think Salty did such a good job for us the whole year, and it just got to the playoffs where Rossie just kind of had the hot hand, whether it be a couple of hits or whether it be putting down good fingers. He was our guy. He caught. "And that's not taking anything away from what Salty did for us that year. We (Lester and Ross) just work well together. For some reason, he and I are on the same page. He knows when to come out there and get on me a little bit and knows when to kind of pull back and let me get on cruise control. "I think it's just the familiar part of it. That just takes time. I'll throw to Miggy. I'll throw to whoever, and we'll work on it. We'll figure it out. I'm not really that hard to catch." -- Cubs.com Jackson begins making pitch for spot in Cubs' rotation By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs have indicated that four of their starters are set, which leaves Edwin Jackson on a long list of pitchers battling for one spot in the rotation. The right-hander did pitch in relief for Joe Maddon in Tampa Bay in 2006, but that was a long time ago. "I'm here to help the team win," Jackson said Monday after his first Cactus League start, in which he gave up four unearned runs in the Cubs' 6-3 loss to the Padres. "Would I like to start? Yes," Jackson said. "If I don't start, am I going to go around and throw a temper tantrum? No. If I don't start, it'll be because of something I didn't do to allow myself to be in that position. It's a fun time here, a great group of guys, a great organization. It'd be a lot of fun to win a lot of ballgames, to win with this ballclub." In two seasons with the Cubs, Jackson is a combined 14-33 with a 5.58 ERA. He finished last year in the bullpen but only made one appearance, on Sept. 27, when he pitched one inning against the Brewers. Jackson's not losing sleep over where he'll wind up on Opening Day. "I just worry about what I have control over, and I definitely don't have control over whether I leave this organization or don't leave this organization," Jackson said. "The only thing I have control over is going out on the field and getting outs. Everything else will take its course." Jackson said he looks at this season as a fresh start. "I know if I go out and throw like I can throw, I can be just as good as anyone in the game," Jackson said. "Where do I stand? I don't know. We'll see. Time will tell." -- Cubs.com Fowler, Bryant developing bond in Cubs camp By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- When Dexter Fowler was a rookie with the Rockies, he remembers being razzed all the time. Matt Holliday, Clint Barmes, Brad Hawpe, Todd Helton, Troy Tulowitzki and others all would tease Fowler.

"Jeff Baker was my locker mate, and he used to tell me, 'Hey, Dex, you know you can move out of your locker,'" Fowler said. "I used to sit like this." And Fowler then sat down on his chair and put his head down, almost in a fetal position. "Everything I did, I got in trouble," Fowler said Monday. "So I was like, 'You know what, I'm not going to move.'" The Cubs' Kris Bryant is different. Fowler is stationed next to Bryant in the Cubs' clubhouse, and the No. 2 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB.com, noted that the veteran is always giving him a hard time, although it's all good-natured. "He's like, 'When I was a rookie, I had to do this and this,'" Bryant said. "He's always smiling. It's contagious. I'm happy he's here." Fowler did ask Bryant for a pair of shoes after seeing Bryant get a new pair. Bryant has yet to deliver. Fowler's not exactly hazing Bryant, just asking for small favors. "I asked this guy if he could help me with my pullover," Fowler said. "We were running late, and I was like, 'Hey, man, can you cut my pullover?' He said, 'Man, I'll do it after practice.' I said, 'I want to wear it now.' "I used to get worn out [as a rookie]," Fowler said. "I was in sliders doing stretch, sliders only. [The rookies] have got it easy now. The game's changed. I tell them all the time that the game's changed. It's unbelievable." Fowler watched another talented rookie last season with the Astros, George Springer. "[Bryant], and Springer last year, you could tell the makeup of those guys," Fowler said. "They have it. They come in and they're not stepping on anybody's toes. You see some guys come in and it's all about them. [Bryant and Springer] are all about team baseball, and they're good. You would think a guy of their caliber, and their talent, they'd be like, 'I know I'm good.' Here, they're really humble." -- Cubs.com Baez pressing, but Maddon 'really not worried' By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Joe Maddon has the same message for Javier Baez this spring that the Cubs' new manager delivered in Puerto Rico when he watched the infielder play: Relax. "He's thinking too much," Maddon said Monday of Baez, who struck out three times Sunday in a loss to the Rangers. "He's getting a lot of information from all of us. I think sometimes it's our fault. I want us to leave him alone and let him play. "I'm not concerned. The guy cares so much. As we continue along, you'll see him make adjustments and become more comfortable." Maddon makes a point of having daily chats with Baez, who batted .169 in 52 games last season with the Cubs, striking out 95 times in 213 at-bats. "I think he's applying pressure on himself," Maddon said. "I'm really not worried." Chicago's new manager traveled to Puerto Rico in January to introduce himself to Baez, 22, and he is repeating the message he gave Baez at that time.

"Smile and relax a little bit, use the middle of the field," Maddon said. "I think sometimes when a hitter is struggling, they go up to the plate and they see everything, as opposed to, 'Let's get this ball and take it right back to where it came from.' Those are better thoughts, as opposed to, 'Are my feet OK? Are my hands OK?' That's the stuff that gets you in trouble." Baez appreciated the support. "They just want to make sure that I know that they care about me," he said. Baez was projected as the Cubs' starting second baseman this season. Is he a lock for the job? "I can't tell you that specifically," Maddon said. "He's definitely a very, very strong candidate for that position." -- Cubs.com Olt, Montero go deep, but Cubs fall to Padres By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Will Middlebrooks belted a three-run homer and Yonder Alonso added a solo shot to back Andrew Cashner and lead the Padres to a 6-3 victory Monday over the Cubs, who are still seeking their first Cactus League win. In his second spring start, Cashner, who was the Cubs' first-round pick in the 2008 Draft before being dealt to San Diego for Anthony Rizzo in January 2012, struck out three and walked one over three hitless innings. San Diego batted around in the second against Chicago's Edwin Jackson. Derek Norris reached on a fielding error by shortstop Starlin Castro to start the inning, then moved up on Jackson's throwing error as the Cubs righty fielded Alonso's comebacker and instead of turning a double play, bounced his throw to Castro covering at second. One out later, Middlebrooks launched a 2-2 pitch to left for his first spring home run and a 3-0 lead. Alexi Amarista added a two-out RBI single. Jackson, battling for Chicago's fifth-starter spot, threw eight pitches in the first, but needed 27 to get through the second. Kyle Hendricks, projected as the fourth starter, struck out one over two innings. Alonso opened a 5-0 lead with a one-out home run in the fifth off Jason Motte, who also served up a Jedd Gyorko double and an RBI single by Abraham Almonte before exiting. Mike Olt belted his second spring home run when he connected against Jason Lane leading off the Chicago fifth. Jonathan Herrera added an RBI single in the inning, then Miguel Montero hit his first spring home run to make it a 6-3 game in the sixth. Up next: Travis Wood makes his second spring start on Tuesday when the Cubs travel to Goodyear to face the Indians. First pitch will be 3:05 p.m. CT, and the game can be seen live on MLB.TV or listened to via an exclusive free cubs.com webcast. In his first start, Wood struck out two of the six batters he faced. An All-Star in 2013, Wood is battling for the fifth-starter spot in the Cubs' rotation. -- Cubs.com Another new skipper, but Coghlan finds familiarity in Cubs camp By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- It's a new season, which means a new manager for Cubs outfielder Chris Coghlan, his seventh in as many years. But this time, it's a little different for Coghlan, because he's reunited with the same hitting coach who was with him when he won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2009 while with the Marlins.

Coghlan and new Cubs manager Joe Maddon were discussing the high turnover rate the other day in Cubs camp. "[Maddon] was like, 'Man, that's a shame, that stinks,'" Coghlan said of seven skippers in seven seasons. "I wasn't saying that like, 'Woe is me.' It's just crazy." But this year, John Mallee, who was the Marlins' Minor League hitting coordinator and then Major League hitting coach when Coghlan played in Miami, is now the Cubs' hitting coach. The two have developed a relationship that goes beyond player/coach. "It was an amazing experience for me," Mallee said of Coghlan's '09 season. "I was so excited when I got this job, because I'd be able to watch him again. We have a rapport. "Even when I wasn't with him, we would talk about his swing," Mallee said. "It's just exciting to see the full maturation of him, going through what he went through as Rookie of the Year and the injury [to his knee] and to fight his way back and grind. "It's like looking at your son -- you see him and he goes through those growing pains, and then he's back," Mallee said. "It's an honor to be able to stand next to him every day, it means that much to me." Coghlan, 29, feels the same about Mallee. "There's already a relationship there, and I feel grateful," Coghlan said. "For me, this feels like the first time I don't have to go through the whole spring with somebody and try to build that relationship and that trust." Anthony Rizzo has had a different hitting coach in each of his three seasons with the Cubs. Coghlan said that kind of change can hinder a player's development. "It really is tough to build that trust," Coghlan said of the player/coach connection. "You hear Joe talk about that, and it's truthful. For people to be vulnerable and share, you have to trust somebody. It's just like any relationship. "Hopefully, we can build longevity here and have the same coaches, especially for the younger guys who might be unsure of themselves at times," Coghlan said. "They can have somebody who they can bounce things off of, who they trust, and who has seen them go through a season and what they're good at and what they struggle at, and know how to keep them on track." In 2009, Coghlan batted .321 for the Marlins with nine homers and 47 RBIs. That was the last season he played more than 100 games until he played 125 in 2014 with the Cubs, when he batted .283. It took some time for him to come back following surgery on his left knee in 2010. This past offseason, after Mallee got the Cubs job, he gave Coghlan a few drills to do. Hearing that voice again is reassuring for Coghlan. "[The different coaches over the years] may be saying the same thing, but it's a different voice, and you're like, 'Man, here's another guy telling me this,'" Coghlan said. "It's tough, because you're like, 'Man, this guy doesn't really know me.'" Which is why Coghlan is so happy to be working with Mallee again. The two have come full circle. -- Cubs.com Schwarber's hustle draws praise from Maddon By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- The Cubs' Kyle Schwarber is learning how to catch. On Sunday, in the ninth inning during a pinch-hit at-bat, he showed he can run.

The No. 3 overall catching prospect in baseball, per MLB.com, lofted a ball to shallow right-center against the Rangers, and was nearly at second base when the ball was dropped. Schwarber ended up at third on the error. "That was spectacular," manager Joe Maddon said Monday of Schwarber's baserunning. "Every time he goes up there, he takes a good swing, first of all, then he hits the ball relatively good, just gets underneath it, but doesn't mail it in. The [outfielder] drops the ball and [Schwarber] makes it to third base easily. I'd say most of the time, guys end up on second base, and maybe even second base under duress. He made it to third base easily, and I thought it was spectacular." Schwarber, who hit a grand slam in his first spring at-bat, which just happened to be on his 22nd birthday, was recruited to play linebacker by some Division I schools. "I just go out there every day to try to prove people wrong -- that's my mindset," Schwarber said. "No one thinks I can run; I'll run as hard as I can. No one thinks I can catch; I'll catch as hard as I can. I want to be perfect back there." Worth noting • Baseball's No. 3 outfielder prospect, Jorge Soler, has not played for two days, but that's part of the Cubs' plan to avoid any of the leg injuries which slowed Soler last season. • Tsuyoshi Wada was limited to one inning Sunday because of some discomfort in the inner thigh of his left leg. Wada missed time earlier this spring because of a left hamstring problem. The left-hander likely will be held back in drills to give him time to heal. • In the movie, "Back to the Future, Part II," Michael J. Fox's character travels forward in time to the year 2015 and discovers the Cubs won the World Series. If that does happen this year, an Illinois car museum will give a winner the exhibit model of a 1981 DeLorean. Maddon was aware of the movie's prediction. He's also a fan of classic cars. "Interesting car, I remember when it came out," Maddon said. "If it has all the bells and whistles, you definitely want that car." -- Cubs.com Bard's comeback progresses with sim game By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- For the first time in what seems like an eternity, Cubs pitcher Daniel Bard got to face batters, and it felt great. Bard, 29, threw a simulated game on Sunday. It may seem like a small step, but it was huge for the right-hander, who is coming back after undergoing Thoracic Outlet Syndrome surgery in January 2014, which forced him to miss all of last season. "It felt really good -- it was fun," said Bard of Sunday's outing. Bard appeared briefly in four games for the Rangers' Class A Hickory team last year as part of his rehab, then took the rest of the summer off. "The velocity was nice to have," Bard said, "but I was more excited that I was pounding the zone and throwing a lot of strikes."

It was Bard's first sim game this spring. "It's the first time I've had a hitter in the box since last year, but I don't know if I count those," Bard said of the Minor League games. "Since I've been feeling good, it's the first time I've had a hitter in the box. It was fun." Bard, who was one of the game's top setup pitchers in 2010, when he posted a 1.93 ERA in 73 games with the Red Sox, expected to throw another sim game before there's any talk of getting into a Cactus League game. "I've been pushing [pitching coach Chris Bosio] as hard as I can to get out in a real game, but their conservative approach seems to be working well," Bard said. "I get it. When I step outside myself, I see what they're saying. For me, I haven't felt this good in so long, I want to keep pushing it." --