November 14, 2016

Chicago Tribune, Cubs strong contenders for three major awards — MVP, Cy Young and manager http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-mvp-cy-young-manager-awards-cubs-spt-1113-20161112-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Enjoy Cubs' victory lap — it will never be like the first time again http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-cubs-championship-postscript-lincicome-spt-1113-20161112-column.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Family: ‘Go Cubs Go’ success a fitting memorial to Steve Goodman http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/family-go-cubs-go-success-a-fitting-memorial-to-steve-goodman/

Cubs.com, Ross reflects on Cubs' title, life in retirement http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/208781344/david-ross-reflects-after-going-out-on-top/

Cubs.com, Rizzo named top defender at first base http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/208675108/cubs-anthony-rizzo-went-defensive-poy-award/

Cubs.com, Arkansas celebrates Travis Wood Day http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/208713296/arkansas-honors-cubs-pitcher-travis-wood/

Cubs.com, Rizzo wins NL Platinum Glove Award http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/208702968/lindor-rizzo-win-platinum-glove-awards/

Cubs.com, Cubs built to challenge for back-to-back titles http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/208316024/cubs-primed-to-make-another-world-series-run/

ESPNChicago.com, From talk shows to awards: Cubs enjoying ride in the spotlight http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/42906/cubs-enjoying-their-moments-in-the-spotlight

CSNChicago.com, 'Embrace The Hangover' Might Become New Slogan For Cubs Team Enjoying Long World Series Victory Lap http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/embrace-hangover-might-become-new-slogan-cubs-team-enjoying-long-world-series-victory

-- Chicago Tribune Cubs strong contenders for three major awards — MVP, Cy Young and manager By Mark Gonzales One year after becoming the first Cubs player in seven seasons to earn National League Rookie of the Year honors, Kris Bryant will find out Thursday if he has reached one of the game's highest individual echelons. The Baseball Writers' Association of America will announce its annual awards this week, culminating with the winners of the Most Valuable Player awards in the American and National leagues.

Bryant could become the first player to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in consecutive seasons since Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox (2007-08) and the first in the NL since Ryan Howard of the Phillies (2005-06). Cal Ripken of the Orioles also won rookie and MVP honors in consecutive seasons (1982-83). Bryant could become the first Cubs MVP since Sammy Sosa in 1998.. The announcement of baseball's major awards starts Monday with the Rookie of the Year honors. Manager of the Year, Cy Young Awards and MVPs follow on consecutive days. Cubs manager Joe Maddon is a finalist along with the Nationals' Dusty Baker and the Dodgers' Dave Roberts for that NL honor. It would be Maddon's fourth such award and his second in a row. He also won two AL awards, in 2011 and 2008, while managing the Rays. For the second straight season, the Cubs also have a chance to secure the NL Cy Young with ERA-title winner Kyle Hendricks and left-hander Jon Lester finalists along with the Nationals' Max Scherzer. Jake Arrieta earned the honor in 2015. Scherzer led the league in victories (20), starts (34), innings (228 1/3) and strikeouts (284). Hendricks (16-8) posted the NL's lowest ERA with a 2.13 mark, which included a 1.32 home ERA, and allowed three earned runs or fewer in 22 consecutive starts. Lester won a team-high 19 games in addition to registering a 2.44 ERA while pitching at least 200 innings (202 2/3) for the eighth time in the last nine seasons. Lester was 10-1 with a 1.76 ERA in the second half. Bryant's MVP credentials were bolstered in August when he batted .383 with 10 home runs and 29 runs as the Cubs doubled their NL Central lead to 15 games. Bryant led the league with 121 runs scored in addition to a .292 batting average, 39 home runs, 102 RBIs and a .385 on-base percentage. One of Bryant's signature moments occurred Aug. 26, when he hit two home runs in the final three innings to rally the Cubs to a 6-4 victory over the Dodgers and fuel chants of "MVP, MVP" from several Cubs fans at Dodger Stadium. Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy, who led the league with 47 doubles, a .595 slugging percentage and .895 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, is expected to be Bryant's stiffest competition. Murphy batted .347 with 105 RBIs. Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager is the third finalist. Bryant could become the second straight Las Vegas native to win the NL MVP award, following former youth travel ball teammate Bryce Harper of the Nationals. -- Chicago Tribune Enjoy Cubs' victory lap — it will never be like the first time again By Bernie Lincicome America was ready for the Cubs, and darned if the Cubs weren't ready for America. They're everywhere. Who's that down there in Disney World? Cubs. On late night shows, afternoon shows, Saturday night shows. Live. Cubs. Who is going to the White House besides Donald Trump? Cubs.

How many folks were at that victory parade again? How many millions? Exaggeration seems to be the fashion these days. Make up any number. The Cubs are infinite. Who's hugging Ellen? Who's singing off key with Bill Murray? Who's riding down Main Street with Mickey? Cubs. Cubs. Cubs. The Cubs story was ready to be told, ready to be heard, ready to be celebrated. Apparently, there is no overdoing it. But it can be told only once. Like wedding dresses, ear swabs and coffins, this is a single-use item. A twice-told tale vexes the ear of a drowsy man, we need not be reminded. Or to put it another way, repeats and three-peats lose their luster. Recall taking for granted the Bulls of the '90s (who were, by the way, less celebrated from the first to the sixth than the Cubs have been already) until even the owner was bored. And the Bears winning all those championships after '85, when Chicago just got jaded with ... oh, that's right, almost forgot. The Bears never matched one glorious season, and now they live off the memory, relying on residual worship for doing once what they should have done at least four more times. Ozzie Guillen should be where Mike Ditka is, and we won't go into the reasons he is not, but the White Sox's shining moment of '05 was Chicago's re-entry into the major leagues and would remain so if not for the incredible embrace of the Cubs. Maybe that is the Chicago way: Once is a wonder, more is a bore. Apologies to the Stanley Cup-hogging Blackhawks, though they never matched the fever of 2010 again. I am not here to suggest the Cubs should just complete their victory laps, wave gratefully and return to where the world was perfectly happy to have them, there on the shelf with trail mix and microwave popcorn, handy when hungry. But I do want to point out that it is never going to get any better than this. Glory fades. One day Game 7 is the greatest game ever played, and the next it is only one of the greatest, certainly good and in the conversation but maybe not as great as we thought. Joe Maddon is a mad genius, magician with the batting order, deft handler of egos and oracle of the dugout. And then he isn't. He's the luckiest bumbler never to be a victim of his own mistakes. The special rot of winning begins to seep into the cracks of bliss. So enjoy it while it is new, accept it while it is genuine and don't wait until the World Series souvenirs are half-price (any day now.) Quitting when you are ahead is better than quitting when you are behind, which most of us tend to do. The Cubs did not and should not. Yet, when the Cubs do it again, as they are supposed to, the phone will not ring as often. A couple more times and warm hugs will become cold shoulders. There is only one first kiss. Hillary climbed Everest only once, Armstrong never went back to the moon, Harper Lee never wrote another ... oh, wait. Yes, she did. A lesson for us all. The Cubs, the fans, the happy strangers, all can enjoy the joy and concede the tardy, while what was overdue can never be redone.

Who needs four — count 'em, four — Sports Illustrated commemorative edition covers? That's the kind of excess that only spells disaster. There is no more verifiable curse than the SI cover curse, greater even than the Curse of Tutankhamun or James Dean's Porsche. On the other hand, every bathing beauty who has appeared on an SI cover has done well for herself. Maybe the curse has something to do with how many clothes you have on. That's not a suggestion. -- Chicago Sun-Times Family: ‘Go Cubs Go’ success a fitting memorial to Steve Goodman By Andy Grimm As the poet laureate of long-frustrated Cubs fans, the late Steve Goodman surely would have been doubly thrilled that his beloved team won the World Series and that his sing-along anthem “Go Cubs Go” finally charted for the first time 32 years after he recorded it, family members say. Sadly, Goodman never heard the song played at Wrigley Field, where, after every Cubs victory, fans happily sing along, “Hey Chicago, what do you say? Cubs are gonna win to-day.” The Chicago folk singer and songwriter’s death of leukemia in 1984 came just weeks after he recorded the song. Nor is his family reaping a fortune due to the song’s rising popularity — thanks to the Cubs’ success this year, it’s risen to No. 21 in digital sales, according to Nielsen Music, streamed more than 2.5 million times. They sold the publishing rights this year for Goodman’s entire song catalogue, according to his daughter Rosanna Goodman. “I called it,” Goodman said by phone from her home in Austin, Texas. “We sold it, and I said, ‘This is the year the Cubs are going to win the World Series.’ ” The singer himself probably never would have made such a bold prediction, according to his widow, Nancy Goodman Tenney. “I don’t know if he ever considered it a possibility,” she said. “I’m sure that a World Series win was something he hoped for but never anticipated.” She said that, although Goodman elaborately outlined his ideal burial in the lyrics for “A Dying Cub’s Fan’s Last Request,” he never told his family what to do if the Cubs actually ever won the World Series — as they did this year for the first time in 108 years. Born on the North Side and raised in Park Ridge, Goodman was obsessed with baseball and the Cubs but lived during some of the most futile decades in franchise history. The Cubs’ most recent World Series appearance, in 1945, came three years before he was born, and they wouldn’t make the playoffs again until 1984, clinching a division title four days after Goodman died at a Seattle hospital. Goodman, diagnosed with leukemia in his 20s, approached life with the same cheery fatalism with which he viewed his team, according to younger brother David Goodman. Naturally charming, the singer seldom paid to get into Wrigley Field, relying on the goodwill of friendly gatekeepers at the bleachers entrance, his brother said: “It was a very Chicago thing, right? ‘I know a guy…’ And Steve, he knew a lot of guys.” A few years after his death, an old friend on the security team let David Goodman in to the ballpark to scatter a vial of his brother’s ashes in left field. Another vial of ashes was scattered over Abner Doubleday Field, the diamond at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., after David Goodman sneaked onto the field under cover of darkness, with Nancy and Goodman’s three daughters looking on from behind a fence.

“I hear people say that he’s buried under home plate at Wrigley Field, which is one of my favorite rumors I’ve heard about my dad,” Rosanna Goodman said. “Go Cubs Go” was never the most valuable song written by Goodman, who also wrote Grammy-winner “City of New Orleans,” made famous by Arlo Guthrie, and the David Allan Coe hit “You Never Even Called Me By My Name.” The song that would become the Cubs’ anthem was commissioned by WGN, which, back then, broadcast Cubs games on TV and radio. Its reemergence has been a fitting memorial to her father, Rosanna Goodman said. Hearing the song on TV or on the radio in distant cities during the Cubs’ playoff run, and then when Cubs players and fans sang it to conclude the team’s Grant Park victory rally, has been moving for his family. Rosanna Goodman said the family still gets some money from the song — the songwriter’s share of royalties, rather than the larger sum that goes to the owner of the publishing rights. More important, she said, “At this point it’s solidified as this team’s anthem. For me, that’s the ultimate. I think my dad would have been incredibly honored that that’s the song that rings out at the ballpark for his favorite team whenever they win.” -- Cubs.com Ross reflects on Cubs' title, life in retirement By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- He's never been asked to pose for so many selfies. A woman at a sandwich shop in a suburban mall on Sunday couldn't wait to hug him, calling him, "Grandpa." Fans camped out overnight at a sporting-goods store just to get an autograph. All the giddiness was for backup catcher David Ross, who is trying to get his life back to normal after helping the Cubs win a World Series championship. "Life's still going," Ross said. "There hasn't been a big lull for me. I ended it the best way I could. It's a storybook and a dream. I was saying to my wife, 'This offseason' -- and she said, 'It's no more the offseason; this is life.'" Ross, 39, was back in Chicago on Sunday, and he provided an update on life after helping to end the longest championship drought in North American professional sports. He's still spraying champagne. Daughter Landri wanted to celebrate like the players did, so on Saturday, she and her friends got their goggles and swimsuits, and Ross doused them with bubbly in the backyard. Then it was time for pizza and a movie. Next up is boy's night out with son Cole. "For me, it's nice to be back in Tallahassee, [Fla.], where it's a little slower paced," Ross said Sunday. "Home is home. You can't replace home. "I just want to be 'Dad,'" he said. "The kids are just super-excited. They're jumping around and the energy level when I got home was through the roof. It's nice to get in the car and go as a family to dinner or a movie or whatever. It just makes it fun." This World Series is special because it came in Ross' final season. He is technically a free agent, but don't expect him to sign with another team. He leaves on an incredible high, picking up his second championship. Ross also won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2013, beating the Cardinals in six games. Winning with the Cubs was different. "It's another level, because of the history aspect here," Ross said. "I didn't realize how many Cubs fans there are. I'm watching the Tampa Bay and Bears [NFL] game and there's a 'W' flag in the background [in the stands].

"With Boston, it didn't soak in for a while, and that's the same now," he said. "I'll have moments, where I'm like, 'Holy cow -- wow. We won the World Series with the Chicago Cubs and with that group.' That's the fun thing for me, is the guys. I had such a bond with the guys in Boston -- when you do things like that, you're brothers for life. With this young group, it's even cooler for me." Ross packed up his gear in Chicago, which included such retirement gifts as the scooter he got in Spring Training, but has yet to watch a replay of Game 7 or any of the Cubs' other playoff games. "I want to watch Game 5 [of the World Series], for sure," he said of the Cubs' 3-2 win over the Indians at Wrigley Field two weeks ago. "That was a fun one -- that was the one that stood out for me. [Game 7] was more stressful for me. I'd never been part of a Game 7. Trying to stay calm, and I had all the nerves, and I'm trying to be the calm one in the dugout." Ross had some quality time with teammates Dexter Fowler and Anthony Rizzo when the trio appeared on "Saturday Night Live," which included a sketch in which they sang "Go Cubs Go" with comedian and Cubs fan Bill Murray. Ross flew to Los Angeles with Kris Bryant and coach Mike Borzello, and they discussed who was coming back to the Cubs next season, how important it will be to get Kyle Schwarber in the lineup, and how Jason Heyward is a leader on the club. Heyward may have saved the World Series for the Cubs in Game 7 when he called a players-only meeting in the weight room during the rain delay prior to the 10th inning. The Indians had tied the game at 6 in the eighth. "It reminded me of David Ortiz calling us in the dugout in St. Louis in Game 4 [of the World Series], and [Ortiz] told us to just be ourselves, have fun, let's play," Ross said. "Jay-Hey, I know him better than a lot of the guys here know him, and he's that guy. He's not afraid to speak up when something needs to be said. I think that will be important moving forward." Ross was a mentor to Heyward when the outfielder was called up to the Braves. In his first year with Chicago, Heyward batted .230, and hit a career-low seven home runs, but he never showed any frustration in the dugout or on the field. "He was going to be professional no matter what and go about his business," Ross said. "That's why so many guys want him in the lineup and love him whether he's hitting or not. "For me, when Jason Heyward is in the lineup, we win," he said. "We're not all perfect -- we can't all be [Bryant] or Rizzo. I wouldn't have had the career I had if hitting was that important. It was nice for me to have that moment with Jason. I know who he is and what he's all about." Heyward will be back with the Cubs. Ross isn't sure what he'll be doing next year. One thing on his wish list is to rent a house on the beach so he and his family can vacation together for a couple weeks. At some point, Ross and Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein will talk about a possible role with the team. They postponed that chat until after Thanksgiving so both can catch their breaths. "I still want to stay in the game and do something," Ross said. "I want to stay in it somehow, some way, and be connected. "I have some priorities," he said. "I want to discuss it with my wife and kids. 'Hey, dad's going to do this and this many days, and this is how dad can make money.' I've made great money, but I can't just go off into the sunset." Next weekend will be a retirement party in Florida with family and friends. "I just want to be around the guys who helped influence me and who I am," he said. "I can't wait for that." Ross has been so busy, he hasn't reflected on his career, or that his playing days are over.

"It hits me at times," Ross said. "But for me, other than cleaning out my locker, there hasn't been a huge emotional day." -- Cubs.com Rizzo named top defender at first base By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who won his first Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards this week, added a third trophy on Friday, winning the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award. The award recognizes the nine best defensive players in the Major Leagues, with one honored at each position. Rizzo led all first basemen in defensive runs saved (11), and ranked 10th in fielding percentage (.996), but he may have secured the defensive award on Aug. 16, when he made an acrobatic play against the Brewers. With one out in the fifth inning in the second game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field, Rizzo chased Keon Broxton's popup in foul territory near the rolled-up tarp. Rizzo then stepped onto the top of the wall with his right foot, reached over the fans to catch the ball, and somehow maintained his balance. The first baseman hopped on one foot, then jumped to the ground. What was Cubs manager Joe Maddon thinking as he watched Rizzo's feat? "Just that he would stick the landing," Maddon said. "I was hoping for at least a 9.5 from the Luxembourg judge. It was a great play. He did a nice job of getting there. ... He knows the wall, he knows that area. He did a great job. It was a big play." The Cubs won the game, 4-1, to complete a sweep of the doubleheader. -- Cubs.com Arkansas celebrates Travis Wood Day By Carrie Muskat Friday was Travis Wood Day in the state of Arkansas. Gov. Asa Hutchinson declared the one-day holiday during a celebration in Bryant, Ark., on Friday night to welcome the Cubs pitcher and World Series champion back to his hometown. Wood rode on the front of a fire truck with his wife Brittany during a parade through the city, which is a suburb of Little Rock, Ark., and was then honored before Bryant's playoff football game against Springdale. In an interview, Wood said he saw a lot of familiar faces and appreciated the support from the town. Special guests at the event included family members of Arkansas native Hank Wyse, the last Cubs pitcher on the mound in the 1945 World Series. Wyse, born in Trumann, Ark., pitched the ninth inning of Game 7 at Wrigley Field and retired the side. But the Tigers won the game, 9-3, and the World Series. Wyse played six seasons with the Cubs, and was 22-10 in 1945 with a 2.68 ERA. He died in October 2000 at the age of 82. The city of Bryant now has a "Travis Wood Way" in honor of the Cubs lefty. Wood, 29, is a free agent, and was asked about what's next. "I'll be playing baseball somewhere," he said, "just not sure where."

-- Cubs.com Rizzo wins NL Platinum Glove Award By Joe Trezza NEW YORK -- Their gloves already gold for the first time this year, Francisco Lindor and Anthony Rizzo turned platinum Friday night. Lindor and Rizzo were presented with the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award as Major League Baseball's best overall defensive players in each league during the Gold Glove Awards ceremony at The Plaza in Manhattan. The awards were well deserved, as both Rizzo and Lindor cemented their places among baseball's elite defenders this season. Rizzo led MLB first basemen with 125 assists and 11 Defensive Runs Saved. Lindor ranked in the top 10 in Ultimate Zone Rating and Defensive Runs Saved while posting a 2.7 dWAR (defensive wins above replacement), tied for the best among shortstops. The Platinum Glove is awarded based on a formula that combined fan voting and the Society of Baseball Research's SABR Defensive Index. As is the case every year, the event was flush with baseball royalty, including Roberto Alomar, Joe Torre, Jim Palmer, Don Mattingly, Jim Edmonds, Andre Dawson, Bernie Williams, Steve Garvey and Doc Gooden. Two living legends were honored in addition to this year's winners. Brooks Robinson, considered by many to be the greatest third baseman of all time, was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by Palmer. Al Kaline, the 15-time Detroit Tigers All-Star, was inducted into the Gold Glove Hall of Fame in a presentation by Jim Kaat. National Pro Fastpitch softball star A.J. Andrews became the first female Gold Glove winner. The former LSU standout is known for making highlight-reel catches as an outfielder for the Akron Races. Now in its 58th year, the Rawlings Gold Glove has been awarded to 323 players, all male Major League Baseball players, until now. "I'm really excited to be that pioneer that paves the way for more girls to win Gold Gloves in the future," Andrews said. "For young girls to grow up thinking they can win something MLB players do, I don't think anyone understands the significance in that." American League Gold Glove recipients were Lindor at shortstop, catcher Salvador Perez of the Royals, first baseman Mitch Moreland of the Rangers, second baseman Ian Kinsler of the Tigers, third baseman Adrian Beltre of the Rangers, left fielder Brett Gardner of the Yankees, center fielder Kevin Kiermaier of the Rays, right fielder Mookie Betts of the Red Sox and pitcher Dallas Keuchel of the Astros. National League trophies went to Rizzo at first base, catcher Buster Posey of the Giants, second baseman Joe Panik of the Giants, third baseman Nolan Arenado of the Rockies, shortstop Brandon Crawford of the Giants, left fielder Starling Marte of the Pirates, center fielder Ender Inciarte of the Braves, right fielder Jason Heyward of the Cubs and right-handed pitcher Zack Greinke of the D-backs. Posey, Rizzo, Panik, Inciarte, Moreland, Kinsler, Lindor, Garner and Betts were all first-time winners. Beltre won his fifth career Gold Glove, while Arenado and Perez took home their fourth consecutive awards. "Beltre, to me, is on his way to the Hall of Fame," Robinson said. Arenado is the first third baseman in Major League history to begin his career with four consecutive Gold Glove wins. "He's the best defensive player I've ever seen at any position," 15-year veteran and former teammate Michael Cuddyer said last year.

Posey's first career selection broke a streak of eight straight awards for Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who will likely be honored with a lifetime achievement award of his own one day. Esurance MLB Awards week concludes Nov. 18 on MLB Network and MLB.com at 8 p.m. ET with the MLB Awards. Categories include Best Major Leaguer, Hitter, Pitcher, Rookie and Manager, and recognize overall MLB winners with no league distinction. -- Cubs.com Cubs built to challenge for back-to-back titles By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- In Game 2 of the World Series, the Cubs' starting lineup featured six players under the age of 25. Just think how much better the young players will be in 2017. The Cubs won 103 games in the regular season, then ousted the Giants and Dodgers in the National League playoffs before beating the Indians in a tense seven-game World Series, and they did so by relying a lot on their youth. What will next year bring? "I think when you demonstrate the confidence in these kids and they succeed, obviously, they come back the next year and they're a little bit better just for the experience itself," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. The half-dozen players under 25 in Game 2 included Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Javier Baez, Willson Contreras, Jorge Soler and Addison Russell. Kyle Hendricks is 26; Anthony Rizzo and Jason Heyward are both 27. The future is bright. Let's look ahead to 2017. Arbitration-eligible: RHP Jake Arrieta, RHP Pedro Strop, RHP Hector Rondon, RHP Justin Grimm. Free agents: OF Dexter Fowler, RHP Jason Hammel, LHP Aroldis Chapman, LHP Travis Wood, RHP Joe Smith, OF Chris Coghlan, RHP Trevor Cahill, C David Ross, IF Munenori Kawasaki. Rotation: After posting the best ERA in the NL (2.96), the rotation will be largely intact for 2017 with Arrieta, Hendricks, Jon Lester and John Lackey returning. The team decided not to pick up 15-game winner Hammel's $12 million option, which leaves a gap. Lefty Mike Montgomery, acquired from the Mariners for Dan Vogelbach, started five games for the Cubs and is one option. The Cubs also may look at lefty Rob Zastryzny, who went 7-3 with a 4.33 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) for Triple-A Iowa. Bullpen: Who will be the closer? Chapman is a free agent, and he may not fit in the Cubs' 2017 budget. Rondon had a solid first half (1.72 ERA in 32 games), but struggled in the second half (6.41 ERA in 22 games). Strop seems better-suited as a setup man. The Cubs have middle-relief options in Grimm and Carl Edwards Jr., but need to find that anchor. Catcher: Contreras is the catcher of the future, and the future is now. Promoted in June, Contreras got plenty of on-the-job training from veterans Miguel Montero and Ross, and was the primary catcher in the postseason. He's athletic, aggressive, a good student, and simply needs more time with the veterans. Said Maddon: "The sky's the limit with this kid." Montero has one more year remaining on his contract. A promising prospect in the system is Victor Caratini, who played in the Arizona Fall League. First base: Rizzo set career highs in batting average (.292), doubles (43), triples (four) and RBIs (109), and continued to dazzle defensively. He showed his acrobatic skills when he jumped onto the ledge along the first-base side at Wrigley Field to grab a foul ball. Rizzo also delivered in the clutch, batting .341 with runners in scoring position.

Second base: This could be interesting. Ben Zobrist is signed through 2019, and came to the Cubs because he thought he'd be a regular at one spot, second base. But Baez's defensive skills outshined Zobrist's, and Baez was the Cubs' starter there in the postseason. During the regular season, Zobrist started 113 games at second, and made seven errors for a .984 fielding percentage, while Baez made 38 starts and committed six errors (.965 fielding percentage). Baez is flashier, and should really patent his swipe tag. Shortstop: What a year for Russell. He was the Opening Day shortstop for the first time, named to the All-Star team, a Gold Glove finalist and a World Series champion. And he's only 22. Russell, who celebrates his 23rd birthday Jan. 23, set career highs in homers (21) and RBIs (95), with 44 of those RBIs coming in the second half, second most on the team. One of the more gifted players athletically, Russell keeps getting better. Third base: Nobody needed to worry about a sophomore slump for Bryant. The NL MVP finalist followed his 2015 NL Rookie of the Year season with an even better campaign, hitting 39 home runs, driving in 102 and scoring an NL-leading 121 runs. Bryant's hitting gets most of the attention, but he's a stellar baserunner, which is why Maddon likes him at the top of the lineup. Outfield: This is the one area that could look different for the Cubs. Heyward will be back in right field, but if Fowler does not return, that creates an opening in center. Albert Almora Jr., who batted .277 in 47 games, could take over in center field. Schwarber, who spent the season rehabbing from two torn ligaments in his left knee, is expected to be ready to play left. Soler, limited again because of injuries, is still under contract, and Maddon could insert Zobrist in left as well. Heyward did not let his offensive struggles affect his play in the field, but the Cubs hope to work with him in the offseason to get his swing back. He batted .230 in 2016 after batting .293 in '15. Maybe being in the second year of his eight-year, $184 million contract will help him return to form. -- ESPNChicago.com From talk shows to awards: Cubs enjoying ride in the spotlight By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- Former Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross wanted to make sure he knew exactly how many autographs he signed Sunday at a Dick's Sporting Goods store in suburban Chicago. It’s not that he was going to make any extra money for it; he just wanted to know if he signed more than teammate Javier Baez, who had done the same days earlier. That’s what it has come to for these Cubs: Who’s the bigger star on a team full of them? Of course, Ross was joking, but autographs and television talk shows have been the norm since the team won its first World Series in 108 years. "It’s been nuts," Ross said between posing for pictures with police officers. "Fun. No sleep. A whirlwind." Can you recall a team more heralded for a championship? It began with an estimated five million fans showing up for the Cubs' championship parade and rally, and it hasn’t stopped. You would be hard-pressed to find a Super Bowl winner or NBA Championship team that has appeared on "Saturday Night Live", "The Tonight Show", "Jimmy Kimmel Live!", "The Ellen DeGeneres Show", "Conan", "Good Morning America" and "Live with Kelly". Everywhere you turn recently, the Cubs are there. "Everyone is interested in the group," Ross said. "I think we have a group that’s relatable to people. Great dudes." And they have a great story to tell. One-hundred-eight years of misery came to an end in the most dramatic of ways: a blown lead followed by a rain delay, a few tears and a meeting. Then a rally was started by a player whose season began again in the World Series, after a devastating injury. No wonder there was so much interest. "It’s been an unbelievable ride," Ross said.

Ross might be enjoying it the most. He knows the fanfare will die down soon enough -- as his retirement begins -- but for now, he’s enjoying being recognized in the airport. "That’s something which never happened before," he said with a smile. An appearance on "Saturday Night Live" with teammates Anthony Rizzo and Dexter Fowler is also something that has never happened before -- and probably won’t again. It was inconceivable when the year started that the 2016 season would end with Ross and his pals stripping and twerking live on national television during an SNL sketch. "My wife saw me in those costumes, and she couldn’t breathe for five minutes," Ross said. "I have a 9-year-old daughter who stayed up late to watch it. She was like, 'Dad, what were you doing to that lady?'" When asked if he heard from people around the league, Ross gave an "Are you kidding?" type of look. "It was four days of returning text messages [after the World Series], then "Saturday Night Live" happened, and it all started again. 'We loved you on SNL, forget the World Series,'" he said with a laugh. "Hanging out with Rizz and Dex in the dressing room was fun. It was the only moments where we could catch up." Then Ross flew to Los Angeles, toured the Warner Bros. studio and appeared on Ellen with Kris Bryant. It’s not just the entertainment world honoring the Cubs, though. Not long after Bryant threw the ball to Rizzo for the last out of Game 7, the baseball awards started coming in. Rizzo and Jason Heyward won Gold Gloves. Rizzo also took home a Platinum glove for the best overall defender in the National League. Silver Slugger honors went to Rizzo and pitcher Jake Arrieta. Kyle Hendricks was the Players Choice for outstanding pitcher, and then MLB announced its finalists for the four big postseason awards. Joe Maddon could win a second consecutive manager of the year honor, Bryant is up for MVP and Hendricks and Jon Lester for Cy Young. Those winners will be announced this week. Soon enough, the hoopla will die down, and there will be another season to play. It’s not like the Cubs believe they are one-and-done -- not with a really young core. But this season was the longest of their lives, and the offseason will be the shortest. Ross said he tried to rationalize it to Bryant while they were in California together. "I told him you played a month longer than everyone," Ross said. In other words, Bryant and his teammates were still in baseball shape in November, while the rest of the NL was on vacation. Maybe there’s simply less time to get out of shape now that spring training is just three months away? That's one way of looking at it. But for Ross, there will be no more spring trainings and no future celebrations. There are just the ones he’s getting now as he signed his name for a store full of people. How many did he put his signature to? Did he beat Baez? "It was 1,263," Ross said. "About 500 more than him. I’ll let him know the old guy beat him." And so it goes for the champion Cubs. To the victors go the spoils. -- CSNChicago.com 'Embrace The Hangover' Might Become New Slogan For Cubs Team Enjoying Long World Series Victory Lap By Patrick Mooney SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Almost 20 years have passed since the New York Yankees captured the first of three straight World Series titles, continuing a dynasty that began in 1996 and won it all again in 1998, 1999 and 2000 before making it to an emotional Game 7 in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

The Cubs now believe they have a homegrown core – to go along with big-money free agents and a future Hall of Fame manager – that could approach what Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada once did in The Bronx. But there are reasons why no team has repeated since those Yankees. The biggest challenge for T-shirt designer/zookeeper Joe Maddon might be making sure the Cubs stay as hungry, driven and focused as they did while chasing the franchise’s holy grail. “Joe will do a great job of that,” general manager Jed Hoyer said. “I think that ‘Embrace The Target’ was in hindsight really brilliant. He looked at it like: ‘We’re going to be the favorites. We have to embrace it.’ I think he’s going to figure out the right tone to ‘Embrace The Hangover.’” Hoyer paused for a moment and came up with another possible T-shirt: “‘Hydrate The Hangover?’” The Cubs have been everywhere, from the cover of Sports Illustrated to team president Theo Epstein promising to go on a bender and ordering some goat from their friends at Girl & the Goat and eating it with Hoyer in the Wrigley Field bleachers. Anthony Rizzo, David Ross and Dexter Fowler joined Bill Murray on “Saturday Night Live.” Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell and Javier Baez went to Disney World. Rizzo, Zobrist and Fowler did “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon while Kris Bryant brought a goat onto the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” set. On "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," Bryant got a Cubs tuxedo for his upcoming wedding while Ross received a walker to help him ease into retirement. Kyle Schwarber did “Live with Kelly,” where guest co-host Alex Rodriguez watched Kelly Ripa touch his goatee. Zobrist told Conan O’Brien he “lost consciousness” after delivering the key 10th-inning double during that Game 7 win over the Cleveland Indians. “Right now, these guys should be doing everything they’re doing,” Hoyer said during the GM meetings that ended Thursday at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa in Arizona. “They should have a blast. Lord knows they wouldn’t be working out right now. “But kind of like us coming to these meetings – there’s a time to get down to business. You enjoy it. Have a great time, sort of accept your rewards for being a champion. But then you got to get back to work.” The young Cubs should also get the benefit of the doubt after winning 200 games and five playoff rounds across the last two years, deftly handling the enormous expectations and off-the-field distractions. “Our guys are really focused,” Hoyer said. “You heard Rizzo kind of talking about repeating with champagne all over him the other night. I think that’s a good thing. But right now, just enjoy it. You get into December, these guys usually start their workouts, and I think they’ll do that. “But, listen, every team that’s ever won talks about the challenges of winning again. You got the awards circuit. You got all sorts of things being presented to you that you haven’t been presented in the past. “And I think that – especially in Chicago – you no longer have that incredible 108-year goal. It’s a different goal – it’s the same goal everyone else has, which is to be a champion. And I think we have to address that.” Jon Lester or Kyle Hendricks might win the National League Cy Young Award next week – and both pitchers can be Cubs through at least the 2020 season. Jake Arrieta will be motivated, pitching for his megadeal in free agency next winter.

Zobrist didn’t stop after transforming the Kansas City Royals’ lineup last year and earning a championship ring, becoming the World Series MVP for a Cubs team that needed his ability to stay calm under pressure. Rizzo is an All-Star/Silver Slugger/Gold Glove first baseman who put up back-to-back 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons – before his 28th birthday. Bryant studied Jeter’s public persona and admired the consistency and professionalism. All Bryant has done since his junior year at the University of San Diego is become: the national college player of the year; the 2013 Arizona Fall League MVP; the consensus minor league player of the year in 2014; last season’s NL Rookie of the Year; a Hank Aaron Award winner and probable MVP this year. Schwarber and Willson Contreras are big personalities who love the leadership responsibilities that come with catching and still haven’t spent an entire season in The Show yet. Russell (23 next season) and Baez (24 next season) should be a dynamic middle-infield combination for years to come. “The sky’s the limit,” said Yankees GM Brian Cashman, who helped the Cubs become champions by making that blockbuster Aroldis Chapman trade. “They got a lot of good, young talent under control that’s obviously now postseason-proven. Obviously, you got to stay healthy. You got to perform. But they’ve positioned themselves rather well.” --