September 1, 2016 CSNChicago.com Jason Hammel Helps Cubs Sweep Pirates And Surge Into September By Patrick Mooney Another quick hook left Jason Hammel seething over the weekend at Dodger Stadium, bringing back uncomfortable questions about how much manager Joe Maddon trusts him, and whether or not the Cubs would find a spot for him on a playoff roster. Four days later, Pearl Jam’s “Alive” blasted from the Wrigley Field sound system as Hammel warmed up before facing the Pittsburgh Pirates, with no guarantees about October or next season. Hammel responded with another strong start during Wednesday’s 6-5 victory, completing a three-game sweep that left the Pirates staggering in the wild-card race and helped the Cubs cut their magic number to win the division down to 16. Outside of a few extreme lows that distorted the perception of his superb overall season – 10-run outings against the New York Mets and at Coors Field and the 39 pitches he dismissively called a side day in Los Angeles – Hammel has been an integral part of the elite rotation that pushed the Cubs to such a huge lead in the National League Central. Now up 15 games on the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cubs surged into September with an 85-47 record, an expectation their pitching staff will get healthy and become whole again and a sense of harmony within their clubhouse. “That’s rearview mirror now,” Hammel said, wearing a Pearl Jam shirt during his postgame press conference. “Joe and I talked it out. There’s no room for off-the-field BS or disagreements or to hold a grudge. “I told him how I felt. He told me how he felt and the reasoning for everything. We’re grown men. We solved it and have to respect each other’s views and opinions. To carry something like that would really mess up something special we got going on right now.” Hammel (14-7, 3.14 ERA) shut down the Pirates for six innings, allowing only one run, scattering three hits and showing the confidence that made him an All-Star-level performer in the first half. Hammel regained control of his fastball, spun some curveballs and incorporated a changeup to create doubt in hitters’ minds and add a different wrinkle to opposing scouting reports. He limited the damage to one run in the fifth inning, working around three walks and screaming and flexing his muscles after striking out Andrew McCutchen swinging at a 93-mph fastball to end the threat. “Yeah, I wanted to get back out there,” Hammel said. “The last one just didn’t sit well with me. So far, so good.” On a night when the crowd chanted “MVP,” Kris Bryant backed Hammel by launching his 36th homer and playing Gold Glove-level defense at third base. Bryant saved a run by diving to his left to catch a Sean Rodriguez line drive and end the second inning. Bryant began the fourth inning with his answer to Anthony Rizzo’s tarp catch, leaning over the wall and into the stands to catch a Josh Bell pop-up. But the defensive play of the night belonged to Addison Russell, who with the bases loaded and the Cubs trying to protect a 5-2 lead, raced over from shortstop and made a sliding catch near the left-field line to end the seventh inning.

“This team’s going to be really good for a long time,” said Hammel, who had been packaged with Jeff Samardzija – Thursday’s starter for the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field – in the Russell trade with the Oakland A’s in 2014. “These kids – I say kids now, because I can, because I’m old – they’re impressive and they continue to dazzle. “You can’t really say surprised, because we’ve come to expect all these great plays and the big knocks that they’re driving in. We’re witnessing greatness.” After getting 22 wins in a month for the first time since September 1945, this could become the next awkward conversation: If John Lackey (shoulder) returns to full strength – and the rest of the rotation doesn’t experience any setbacks down the stretch – what are the chances of Hammel making a playoff start? “Stay healthy and we’ll see what happens,” Maddon said. “I don’t bet on the come. Let’s get to the playoffs first, make sure everybody’s well, and at that point then you look at the group you have. And then maybe at that point you look at the group you may be playing. And then you try to formulate the best plan of attack from your personnel versus their personnel. “I’ve not even thought about a playoff moment once.” The Cubs will now have all of September to think about October. -- CSNChicago.com Eloy Jimenez And Ian Happ Headline Cubs Prospects Ticketed For Arizona Fall League By Patrick Mooney Eloy Jimenez and Ian Happ will headline the group of seven Cubs prospects ticketed for the Arizona Fall League. As the Cubs project their next wave of talent, Jimenez is thought to be close to untouchable after a breakout performance at the All-Star Futures Game and a Midwest League MVP season at Class-A South Bend. Jimenez – who originally signed out of the Dominican Republic and got a $2.8 million bonus in the summer of 2013 – is hitting .331 with 14 homers and 81 RBI through 111 games with the South Bend Cubs. At the age of 19, the dynamic outfielder reminds the Cubs a little bit of Kris Bryant during his freshman year at the University of San Diego with that 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame and powerful right-handed swing. Happ – the ninth overall pick in the 2015 draft out of the University of Cincinnati – is a switch-hitter (.717 OPS at Double-A Tennessee) who has tried to increase his versatility by moving between second base and the outfield and become a Joe Maddon-type player. The Mesa Solar Sox roster unveiled Wednesday also includes Victor Caratini, an advanced defensive catcher who drew interest around the trade deadline and could be packaged in a bigger deal for pitching if Willson Contreras continues to develop behind the plate and Kyle Schwarber comes back healthy next season. Cubs officials trying to build a pitching pipeline for Wrigley Field will also get a look at right-handers James Farris, Ryan McNeil, Stephen Perakslis and Duane Underwood Jr. in the showcase league. -- CSNChicago.com Only The Cubs: Tommy La Stella Finally Returns From Exile By Patrick Mooney The main takeaway from a 15-minute press conference where Tommy La Stella talked a lot and said very little: Only the Cubs.

Even La Stella realizes he’s fortunate to be working for Joe Maddon, perhaps the most liberal manager in an extremely conservative industry, and Theo Epstein’s front office, which takes a holistic view of player development and built out an entire wing for mental skills. There aren’t many other markets where one of the last guys on the roster could dominate multiple news cycles, but the appetite for information on the best team in baseball appears to be endless, and this story is so bizarre, even by Cubbie standards. La Stella addressed his teammates inside the Wrigley Field clubhouse for about 10 minutes before starting at second base and batting seventh in Wednesday night’s lineup against the Pittsburgh Pirates. But La Stella – the second act in a trilogy of media sessions in the underground interview room, after Maddon and before Epstein – didn’t offer any real insight into why he refused to report to Triple-A Iowa in late July, moved home to New Jersey, told ESPN he might retire if he couldn’t play for the big-league Cubs and finally ended his three-week holdout in the middle of August. “That’s pretty much between me and them – and me and Theo,” La Stella said. “I understand that there’s going to be people out there who kind of draw conclusions and stuff. And that’s fine. I’m not necessarily out here to make anybody see anything or explain anything. “As long as people understand that there are things out there that are kind of personal to me – and I’ve shared those with the guys. It’s not necessarily going to be just like a cut-and-dry, black-and-white answer where everybody goes: ‘Oh, yeah, I get it now.’ That answer doesn’t really exist.” La Stella confirmed the answer didn't involve a health issue or crisis in his family. This reunion became inevitable the longer the Cubs played this game, taking a softer approach, knowing his left-handed swing could help win a playoff game and not immediately cutting him. “That was obviously a very real possibility that I was fully prepared for,” La Stella said. “I was at a point in my life, just personally and professionally, (where) that wasn’t something that I was in fear of. I was OK with it. “The way Theo approached it…I was very lucky because he treated me like a person and not an employee.” La Stella, 27, isn’t sure if he wants to remain a Cubs employee beyond this season: “I don’t know, to be honest with you. I don’t want to say something, because I don’t have an answer.” And when asked if he missed the game during his retreat, La Stella said: “I missed the guys. The game, to me, that’s kind of just the avenue for the other type of enjoyment that I get through those guys and the stuff that we get to do together.” How much of your decision to step away came out of pure frustration after being sent down to the minors with a .295 average? “None of it,” La Stella said. “I know that sounds absurd to say. (But) that had absolutely nothing to do with that. I made that very clear to Theo. I told him when it happened: I totally understood the move. He’s doing what he believes is in the best interest of the team. I’m all for that.” It got to the point where an exasperated columnist asked: Do you understand how strange this is for us to comprehend, how there’s nothing to grasp here? “I hear ya,” La Stella said. “It’s certainly not a typical situation.” Epstein – who’s in his 25th season in Major League Baseball, which should be converted into dog years after all the time he’s spent with the Cubs and Boston Red Sox – had never seen anything like it before.

“There are appropriate times for punishment,” Epstein said, “and standing up for the organization if we think an individual is acting in a malevolent way and putting himself before the organization and trying to do damage to the team concept. “I can just tell you that after talking to him, we didn’t feel that way. We felt it was more misguided and not malevolent, so we wanted to work with him to get him back to this point.” La Stella’s personal journey included temporarily quitting baseball in high school, transferring from St. John’s University to Coastal Carolina University and deserting the Atlanta Braves, which he explained as a “completely different” situation: “Somebody close to me was sick in the hospital.” “One of the things I like about Tommy the most is that he is his own man,” Maddon said. Another thing: “The guy can wake up in the middle of the night and hit a line drive on a 1-2 count.” La Stella clearly made a connection with Maddon, forged alliances in the clubhouse with respected professionals like Jake Arrieta and Jason Heyward and should still have that unique hand-eye coordination and contact skills. As for the reaction from the fans… “It’s tough for me to say, because I haven’t read anything,” La Stella said. “I haven’t looked at anything – good or bad – so I don’t really necessarily know what the perception of all of it is. I’m sure negatively there’s going to be some people who don’t understand, or don’t agree. And that’s fine. “A couple difficult personal experiences for me between now and the end of the year isn’t going to outweigh all the incredible stuff I’ve gotten to see here at Wrigley. It’s a pretty sacred place. It’s going to take more than a couple difficult moments for me personally to change any feeling on that.” La Stella did admit that he wondered how he would be received by teammates – and if they would question his commitment to the game. “I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t something that eventually enters your mind,” La Stella said. “But the thing that outweighed that for me was I couldn’t not do what I felt was right for me, just because of how it might be perceived by other people. “That group of guys in there is an unbelievably special group. And if there was one team that would welcome something like this back, it’s those guys. I’m very lucky.” Only the Cubs. -- Chicago Tribune Addison Russell's catch caps Cubs' August success despite weary bullpen By Mark Gonzales Addison Russell’s sliding catch near the left field foul line typified the Chicago Cubs’ spectacular play during the month of August. Russell’s catch to end the seventh inning preserved a three-run lead that loomed large Wednesday night as the Cubs held on for a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at windy Wrigley Field. Russell’s dazzling play allowed the Cubs to finish August with a 22-6 record and 15-game lead in the National League Central. The 22-6 record equals the Cubs’ best August set in 1932. The 22 wins were their most in a month since they were 22-10 in September of 1945, the last time they went to the World Series. “I never would have dreamed of that,” Maddon said of the Cubs’ 15-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals. “I’m not that good.

“I never could imagine you’d have this kind of lead at this point in the season.” Russell highlighted a series of exceptional defensive plays for the Cubs. Several teammates compared Russell’s catch to first baseman Anthony Rizzo stepping on top of the small wall down the right field line and lean into the seats to make a catch against the Brewers two weeks ago. “Rizzo is an athlete,” Russell said. “He makes some tremendous catches over there. And I’m happy he gets to see what I can do over there.” Russell’s play was more timely because it occurred with the bases loaded and Gregory Polanco at the plate with the Cubs leading 5-2. “I’m playing up the middle,” Russell said. “I’m still not canceling out something over there that way, and I just got a good read on the ball. I anticipated him up the middle, but he hit it the other way. I pounced on it as quick as I can and thought there was no way I was going to make that play but hustled over there and got a glove on it.” Russell was battling a wind so stuff that had third baseman Kris Bryant thinking that left fielder Matt Szczur was closer to making the play. But Russell caught up to the ball in time to make a sliding catch. “It was more like a running, one-legged jump slide,” Russell said. “I had to track the ball into my glove because going over toward the line, not knowing where the foul line is at or the bullpen is at. I kind of put my head down and at the last second tracked it.” Said Maddon: “He has this ability to make that kind of play, whether it’s a popup or ground ball. He’s been nothing short of spectacular.” The same can’t be said for a weary bullpen. Left-hander Travis Wood, making his 66th appearance, was charged with two runs after allowing two hits and a walk in the eighth. Aroldis Chapman, pitching his third consecutive night, retired the first two batters in the ninth before the Pirates rallied for a run and put the go-ahead run at second before Jordy Mercer struck out to end the game. “I’m going to have to get creative with the bullpen,” said Maddon, who plans to give multiple days off to a few of his relievers. Maddon used Wood to start the eighth because he didn’t want to use rookie Felix Pena because of his lack of experience and the possibility that the Pirates would counter with right-handed hitters if he had Wood followed Pena. Maddon said he checked on Chapman’s availability before the game, and credited the Pirates with pesky at-bats that raised Chapman’s pitch count to 31. -- Chicago Tribune Jason Hammel rebounds in 6-5 victory to remain playoff starting candidate By Mark Gonzales Manager Joe Maddon carefully assessed the status of Jason Hammel as a playoff starter before Hammel pitched six innings of one-run, three-hit ball Wednesday night against the Pirates. "Stay healthy, and we'll see what happens," Maddon said before the Cubs held on for a 6-5 victory at windy Wrigley Field. "I'm not going to say anything until that day occurs." Maddon did share some of his strategy in the likely event the Cubs reach the playoffs.

"You look at the group you have, then the group you're playing and then form a plan of attack," Maddon said. Hammel acquitted himself well after lasting only 2 1/3 innings and 39 pitches Saturday against the Dodgers. His only blemish was a walk to pitcher Ryan Vogelsong that help set up Josh Harrison's RBI single off the glove a diving Kris Bryant at third base in the fifth. "He was really good," Maddon said. "His stuff was very good." The Cubs offense did its job with eight hits and six walks to give the team a cushion. Bryant hit his 36th home run and Willson Contreras had an RBI double to cap the three-run sixth. Addison Russell's sacrifice fly in the seventh provided the winning margin as the Cubs bullpen gave up four runs in the last three innings. Lackey back soon: John Lackey's return to the Cubs' rotation, perhaps as soon as Sunday from a right shoulder strain, likely will affect the playoff pitching plans. The Cubs still are considering a six-man rotation, which could be employed during stretches in which they don't have a day off looming. The Cubs' final two off days are Sept. 8 and 22. Returning acts: Outfielder Chris Coghlan and reliever Joe Smith are expected to return from their minor-league rehabilitation assignments at Triple-A Iowa and rejoin the Cubs on Thursday when 25-man rosters can be expanded. Reliever Spencer Patton, who was optioned to make room for infielder Tommy La Stella, likely will rejoin the Cubs after Iowa's season ends Monday. It appears the Cubs won't add a fourth catcher. Extra innings: Lackey and Hector Rondon will throw bullpen sessions before Thursday's game, and Rondon could start a minor-league rehab assignment with Iowa this weekend. … Outfielder Eloy Jimenez and second baseman Ian Happ, two of the Cubs' top prospects, will play for Mesa in the Arizona Fall League. They will be joined by pitchers Duane Underwood Jr., James Farris, Ryan McNeil and Stephen Perakslis, and catcher Victor Caratini. -- Chicago Tribune Tommy La Stella rejoins Cubs with same passion for teammates if not for game By Mark Gonzales Tommy La Stella said he wasn't afraid of the possibility of being released during his three-week absence from the Cubs organization and that he wasn't sure if he would play in 2017. But La Stella rejoined his teammates before Wednesday night's 6-5 victory over the Pirates at Wrigley Field stressing his departure on July 29 stemmed from questions over his passion for the game and was not for any physical or emotional reasons. "It has changed," La Stella said of his love for the game after talking privately with teammates about his departure. "That dates back to last year. "For me, it's not nearly as enjoyable going out and pursuing (goals for) myself, my at-bats, how I'm doing. I got a taste of that last year. Baseball is a team game played by individuals, so you do have to go for the individual aspect of it. But, for me, that's kind of what detracted from my enjoyment of the game in the first place this year." La Stella said he wants the game to be more like it was in high school and college: striving for a collective goal and sharing it.

"(You) enjoy your teammates' successes as though it was your own," he said. "This year was a lot better for me (that way), even at the end of last year after coming back from two oblique (injuries)." President Theo Epstein, whom La Stella said treated him like a person instead of an employee during his absence, and manager Joe Maddon said teammates greeted La Stella warmly when he spoke to them after the clubhouse was closed to reporters before the game. "To be honest with you, the meeting with the guys was huge for me," La Stella said in a relieved tone. "It was nice to get all that stuff off my chest and be open and honest. It was good to be around them again." Epstein admitted he was surprised when La Stella, a backup infielder and left-handed pinch-hitter, initially declined to report to Triple-A Iowa and considered punitive action while placing him on the involuntary inactive list until speaking to him, along with Maddon and sports psychologist Ken Ravizza. "It has a lot to do with things he has been through in his career, how his past has (affected) his view of the game, his connection to the team, his role and things like that," Epstein said. "I know it's hard to understand. I understand it better being around him." Epstein said La Stella, 27, who was batting .295 at the time of his demotion, was committed to being a "great teammate" entering this season and connecting well with his teammates. "When that was taken away from him, it was harder to deal with than if he had been out there to just accumulate service time and put up numbers." La Stella exchanged handshakes and hugs from teammates as he scooted through the clubhouse, then started at second base. He made a smooth pivot despite getting upended by Josh Harrison to complete a double play to end the first inning. The Cubs had planned to promote La Stella on Monday, but they needed extra pitching after completing a taxing nine-game trip to the West Coast. "I understand there will be people who draw conclusions," La Stella said of any skeptics. "And that's fine. I'm not necessarily out here to make anybody see anything or explain anything." -- Chicago Tribune Eloy Jimenez, Ian Happ among Cubs' top prospects headed to AFL By Mark Gonzales Top prospects Eloy Jimenez and Ian Happ are among the Chicago Cubs' players selected to play in the Arizona Fall League. Jimenez, the top player in the Class-A Midwest League, is batting .331 with 14 home runs and 81 RBIs for South Bend. Happ, the Cubs' first pick in the 2015 draft, is batting a combined .278 with 13 home runs and 69 RBIs for Class-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee. Jimenez, an outfielder, and Happ, a second baseman, will play for Mesa. They will be joined by pitchers Duane Underwood Jr., James Farris, Ryan McNeil and Stephen Perakslis, and catcher Victor Caratini. -- Chicago Tribune Jeff Samardzija relishes chance to challenge Cubs in playoff atmosphere By Mark Gonzales

Jeff Samardzija needs only to recall his seasons as a wide receiver for Notre Dame to realize the preciousness of pitching in the postseason "I remember in college everyone said, 'Enjoy running out of that tunnel,'" Samardzija said Thursday. "You think, 'I have four years there. I'm not too worried about it.' Then you blink, and it's over." Samardzija returns Thursday night to Wrigley Field, where he made his only playoff appearance as a rookie in 2008 before the Cubs' franchise began to slide and it eventually traded him to the Athletics in July 2014. Samardzija and the Giants open a four-game series against the Cubs with postseason hopes and a sense of urgency after blowing a 6 1/2-game lead in the National League West to the Dodgers at the All-Star break. "When it's all said and done, I don't want to leave anything on the table, to know in those games you showed up and gave it all you had, had fun doing it and enjoyed the moment," Samardzija said. Samardzija, 31, knows there's more at stake now than there was last August when he allowed three home runs in a loss to the Cubs while pitching terribly for a wacky White Sox team. Samardzija spoke briefly with Cubs President Theo Epstein last November before signing a five-year, $90 million contract with the Giants. But Samardzija has kept a close watch on the Cubs, who traded him in their last major rebuilding move along with Jason Hammel in a deal that netted shortstop Addison Russell. Samardzija has the luxury of a long-term contract with the Giants that the Cubs weren't interested in offering during his free agency. But likes what the Cubs have done and believes the four-game series should be "a crazy experience." "They got it right with Kris (Bryant)," Samardzija said. "I knew (Anthony) Rizzo well, and Riz was a can't-miss guy. They spent the money, that's a big part of it, too. You add guys like (Jon) Lester and (Jason) Heyward and so on. You make your team a lot better, just adding one guy." Samardzija saw the reverse effect three weeks after joining the Athletics when they traded Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox. "A puncture to the balloon it is," Samardzija said. "(But) adding those guys here and there and adding a big-time guy like Lester, it's not surprising at all. "You still have to go out and do it, and that's the thing they've done very well. I always see them winning close games, and it's always a big foretelling sign." Samardzija (11-9) allowed 19 runs in his first four post All-Star break starts but threw seven shutout innings in his last outing Friday against the Braves. Thursday's start gives Samardzija an opportunity to show Wrigley Field followers he can pitch in a playoff-type setting. "You just don't want to waste those opportunities because they're special moments," he said. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' Dexter Fowler provides back-to-school push By Maya Miller Chicago Cubs' leadoff man Dexter Fowler extended the team's hot streak Wednesday by paying off the back-to-school-supply layaway accounts of 43 area families. Fowler, who says he remembers putting holiday presents on layaway growing up, said he was grateful to give back to Chicago's young students.

"Any way that (athletes) can help, after being put on this pedestal ... is definitely a blessing," he said. "This is just a head start to get the kids excited about school." Fowler's appearance was organized by the Pay Away the Layaway charity. After surprising a family of four by handing them their school supplies and clothing at a North Side Kmart, Fowler discussed the importance education has had in his life. "My mom, she taught in the school system, so growing up school's (been) very important to our family." Fowler, who was drafted out of high school but was recruited by Dartmouth and Harvard, said he is committed to going to college after his baseball career. Before doing so, however, he'll have to face one of his hardest tests: a Cubs postseason run. -- Chicago Tribune The Weight: Chapter 11 The Onesies Trip By Paul Sullivan Kris Bryant bazooka'd Adam Liberatore's juicy offering into the right-center-field bleachers of Dodger Stadium, furthering his reputation as the Great Cubs Hope. The go-ahead, two-run home run in the 10th inning, his second in as many at-bats, lifted the Cubs to a 6-4 comeback win over the Dodgers in the opener of the final series of the Onesies Trip, igniting the chanting from road-tripping Cubs fans. MVP. MVP. MVP. It sounded familiar, and it was. Anthony Rizzo heard the same chant two weeks earlier at Wrigley Field, when he pulled off his annual jump-on-the-brick-wall trick, snaring a pop foul before jumping back on the field. But this time Dodgers legend Vin Scully was behind the mic in the final weeks of a 67-year career, while Bob Newhart and thousands of non-celebrity Cubs fans served as eyewitnesses. As Bryant waited for his postgame interrogation, teammates shouted "MVP" and David Ross led a Snoop Dogg sing-a-long. This was not your grandfather's Cubs, unless your grandfather loved gangsta rap as much as "Grandpa Rossy." "Pretty cool," Bryant said, referring to the chant, not the Snoop serenade. "Kind of growing up you hear that on TV, and to kind of hear it now, it's humbling and keeps me determined to do more and do whatever I can." Rizzo had gone into the night leading Bryant 87-86 in their RBI duel, which had been neck-and-neck since before the ivy began to bloom. Now Bryant seemingly had blown past him in the MVP race. "I just try to keep pace with him," Rizzo said. "He's really taking off with the homers. It's good. He pushes me. I push him. It's fun to be part of, and to hit behind him and see him do that every at-bat." The Cubs had won for the 10th time when trailing after six innings, establishing an M.O. that could serve them well down the road. As Joe Maddon liked to say: "Trends can be so trendy." Bryant compared the late-inning comeback against the Dodgers to a Sunday night win over the Mariners at Wrigley on the last day of July, when the Cubs had trailed by six only to win 7-6 in 12 innings. "Obviously the game kind of didn't feel like it was winnable for us, even though we were only down by one run at one point," he said.

"It was kind of one of those weird games. But this is our team, and we did it last year and we never give up. We always believe we can win in the final innings, and this was no different." The things he has seen The Cubs had zoomed to 82 wins faster than any predecessors since the 1929 edition won the National League pennant by 10 1/2 games. Trying to end a 21-year title drought, those '29 Cubs lost to the A's in a five-game World Series, blowing an eight-run lead in Game 4 by giving up 10 runs in the seventh inning, a harbinger of October nightmares to come. Yosh Kawano had experienced a few of those, and while the Cubs and Dodgers rehearsed for a possible playoff showdown, the former Cubs clubhouse man laid back in bed in a nursing home 3 1/2 miles east of Dodger Stadium. Kawano was the last link to the pre-World War II Cubs, having started out as a spring training bat boy in 1935 and spending nearly 65 years in the organization running either the home or visitors' clubhouse. Mark Grace once called him "the king of Wrigley Field," but the reign ended with a forced retirement in 2008, and the Cubs were forced to apologize when a security guard didn't recognize Kawano and kicked him out Wrigley in '09. Kawano had worked under 37 managers, 12 general managers and two owners. Hall of Famer outfielder Billy Williams said Tribune Co. agreed to the Wrigley family's request to keep Kawano on the clubhouse staff when the team was sold in 1981. Now Kawano was 95 and unable to communicate, but he was hanging in like a journeyman pitcher who'd lost his fastball. Kawano's trademark floppy hat had been displayed in an exhibit at the Baseball Hall of Fame, but here he was known as "Yoshi" by staffers who kept his spirits high. Reminders of Kawano's Cubs days were pinned to a corkboard near the room's small TV — a birthday card from a longtime Cubs employee, a Tribune article on the '69 Cubs from the previous October and a more recent article on the 2016 team with the words "Yosh, this is the year!" scribbled in blue ink over the newsprint. The Cubs had finished with a winning record only six times in Kawano's 65 years there, a streak of ineptitude that defied belief. But now the team was built to contend for years, and this team was threatening to lift the 107-year weight. Could they do it in Kawano's lifetime? If only Yosh could talk… Hot and cool Music played over the clubhouse speakers despite a one-run loss in Game 2 of the series, an uneventful affair aside from the bad display of body language exhibited by starter Jason Hammel, who was pulled after 39 pitches. With a 14-game lead, the Cubs' stress level was equivalent to that of a weatherman in San Diego. No one was going to freak out at the end of a four-game winning streak. As players got dressed for their Saturday night out, Bulls star Jimmy Butler, visiting Dexter Fowler, proclaimed he was on board with a Cubs championship, even if Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf also owned the White Sox. "I'm going to be here when the Cubs win the World Series," Butler announced without checking the Bulls schedule. Butler was told he could probably lead "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" that night if he was free. No thanks, he replied.

"I don't like to sing for free," Butler said. "Do Beyonce sing for free?" Is Butler Beyonce? "In the male form, yes," he said with a laugh. The laughter cooled down a minute later when the media flocked to Hammel, who clearly was still irritated by the early hook that led to a postgame summit with Maddon. The laid-back Hammel uncharacteristically held a testy back-and-forth with reporters before asking them not to ask a "ridiculous" question about early hooks from last year. Was this a blip or a trend? Mental notes were taken, and the reporters moved on. Would Hammel and Maddon move on as well? Ending with a thud Onesies Day finally arrived, a day Maddon seemed to cherish more than Halloween. Players would all wear the child-like pajamas on the long flight home, just as they'd done last year after Jake Arrieta's no-hitter at Dodger Stadium. Javier Baez, the first to try his onesie on in the clubhouse before the game, told teammates they were "really hot" this year. Maddon had "misremembered" the game time, thinking it would be played at night. But the finale of the wild west swing ended with a thud. Jon Lester threw six scoreless innings, yet the Cubs couldn't touch Dodgers rookie Brock Stewart in a 1-0 loss. Stewart, an avowed White Sox fan, told reporters he respected the Cubs but "certainly don't mind seeing them lose." The game's only run came in the eighth when Baez absent-mindedly threw to second base on Adrian Gonzalez's grounder with the bases loaded and two outs. Second baseman Ben Zobrist was too far off the bag because of the shift, and Corey Seager beat the force. Afterward, Maddon protected Baez like SPF 50 sunblock. "I made mistakes when I was that age," he said. "He made a mistake today." A youthful mistake but a mistake nonetheless. It was the kind of play that could haunt a team in the heat of a pennant race. But this race had ended long ago, and Baez had been their defensive MVP all season. Maddon said the players and coaches would not allow the kid to beat himself up. "He's got a lot of support here," he said. "We were pumping him up on the bench before his at-bat. He'll get the proper support." The Cubs finished the Onesies Trip with a 5-4 record, losing two of the three series but maintaining the canyon-sized gap between themselves and the second-place Cardinals. The Dodgers' dominant pitching was something to keep in the back of their minds, in case they meet again, but Lester labeled the trip a success. "There were a couple games in there, in Colorado, and especially today, that we'd like to have seen go a little differently," he said, wearing a patriotic, red-white-and-blue onesie. "But anytime you're away from home and above .500, that's always good."

'Enjoy the moment' Because of the loss, the players canceled the group onesies photo shoot on the field, which had produced a classic "time-of-your-life" photo after Arrieta's no-hitter in '15. Everything was fresh back then. The no-hitter was still being celebrated, and outside expectations were just beginning to bubble up. Everything had changed now, even with most of the same cast of characters. The Cubs knew they'd clock into the office in October as the favorite to win it all, and reminders of the drought and past misfortunes would crop up like crows on a discarded pizza crust. Rich Hill knew the feeling well. In the Dodgers clubhouse, the former starter on the Cubs '07 playoff team suggested the current Cubs "embrace the moment" because you never know if it'll happen again. Hill understood the pressure of trying to fulfill the wishes of Cubs fans and millions of their dead relatives. He recalled being at Wrigley with the Red Sox for an interleague series in June 2012 when some Cubs fans came down to the visitors' bullpen with a Ziploc bag filled with their relative's ashes. Spreading the ashes on Wrigley was the plan, but like of lot of Cubs fans' plans, things went awry. "They were in such a rush because they didn't want to get caught," Hill said. "The ashes ended up going into the ball bag with the balls we used to warm up. Guys would reach in for a ball and go 'What's going on here?'" Someone's dead relative was coating the balls thrown by Red Sox pitchers, giving new meaning to the term "Dead Ball Era." Hill chuckled at the lunacy of it all. "I think it speaks to the greatness of Wrigley Field," he said. "That's how special it is to everybody and symbolic of the history there. If you're a Cubs player, just enjoying the moment, staying in the moment is the best thing you can do, wherever that may be. "They're obviously having a hell of a year, so just enjoying it is all you can ask." As the sun settled over the hills beyond Dodger Stadium, shadows covered the park like a worn, gray hoodie and a beautiful silence filled the air. Stadium workers picked up discarded beer cups and Dodger Dogs wrappers, while writers hunched over laptops in the Vin Scully Press Box, filing stories on the game, the onesies and the long and winding road trip. A TV near the press box entrance had been muted, but a postgame show was still airing on the Dodgers network. You didn't need to hear it to figure out the team's in-house reporter was giving a Wikipedia-like history of Cubs' curses, with an accompanying graphic that read "Cursed Cubbies." First came the black-and-white photo of the late Billy Goat Tavern owner William Sianis and his goat at the 1945 World Series. Next came the famous photo of the black cat stalking Ron Santo at Shea Stadium in 1969. The history lesson then ended with the ubiquitous shot of Steve Bartman and Moises Alou vying for the foul ball during the fateful eighth inning of Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS. Embracing the moment sounded like a good idea, even if the media was constantly embracing the past. That's why the Onesies Trip was a perfect distraction from the outside noise.

Maddon's Cubs had their blinders on, ready for the finishing kick of a season that had flown by in the blink of an eye. October was still more than a month away, even if the coming attractions had already begun. -- Chicago Sun-Times Another highlight catch, another big hitting night for Cub kids By Gordon Wittenmyer Jason Hammel pitched “outstanding,” according to his manager. But after his victory over the Pirates Wednesday night, the Cubs’ starter seemed most interested in talking about the Cubs’ fielding – including a highlight-reel catch of a foul popup in left field by shortstop Addison Russell. “We’ve got two Catch of the Year nominees now between him and Rizz,” Hammel said, referring also to first baseman Anthony Rizzo’s wall-climbing catch of a foul ball over the seats past the first-base dugout Aug. 16 against the Brewers. “And KB with the big play in the second inning,” Hammel added of third baseman Kris Bryant’s diving catch of Sean Rodriguez’s line drive to end the second with a man on third. “We’re spoiled with the defense we have.” The Cubs’ pitching staff has the top ERA in baseball, but often overlooked is the fact that the Cubs have the best group of fielders in baseball at turning balls in play into outs. Russell’s play in Wednesday’s seventh was Exhibit A for that relationship – the Gold Glove candidate, who was shaded toward the middle, sprinting near the line with two out and the bases loaded in a 5-2 game to make a sliding catch that saved at least two runs. “That was huge in that situation,” Bryant said. “I thought it was [left fielder Matt] Szczur’s ball, and then Addison comes out of nowhere. “I had a front-row seat and that was one of the best catches I’ve seen.” Russell said he anticipated Gregory Polanco hitting the ball up the middle but got a good read on the wind-blown pop to left field. “I pounced on it as quick as I can,” he said. “I thought there was no way I was going to make that play but hustled over there and got a glove on it and just was able to make the play. It was awesome.” Gold Glove? “He’s been nothing short of spectacular this year,” manager Joe Maddon said. Maybe Bryant, too? “If you look at him, at any place we put him he’s an above-average defender,” said Maddon, who has also played Bryant extensively in the corner outfield spots. “It’s probably not talked about as much as his offense, but anywhere you put him, you feel good about it.” Offense? Bryant hit his 36th home run in Wednesday’s first inning. He singled and scored again in the fourth. It was Russell who singled him home in the fourth for an 85th RBI. Bryant is 24. Russell is 22. Neither has completed a full season in the majors yet. “This team’s going to be really good for a long time,” Hammel said. “These kids, they’re impressive. And they continue to dazzle, and you can’t really say it’s a surprise because we’ve come to expect all these great plays and the big knocks that they’re driving in.

“We’re witnessing greatness with a lot of young kids right now.” -- Chicago Sun-Times The mysterious story of Tommy La Stella, complete with no answers By Rick Morrissey I spent 15 minutes Wednesday evening listening to Tommy La Stella talk about his initial decision to refuse a minor-league assignment, and I’m more in the dark about his motivations than I was when his boycott began July 29. And I might as well have been in a dark closet back then, along with everybody else. His press conference Wednesday was a game of 20 Questions that went extra innings, and I’m not even sure La Stella answered definitively if his issue was bigger than a breadbox. I do know that he explained his reasons to his Cubs teammates as a group in the clubhouse, that those reasons had to do with baseball and not his mental health, and that manager Joe Maddon thinks everything is wonderful. Oh, and that upon his return, he played second base against the Pirates at Wrigley Field. But other than that, all I and anybody else really knows is that the 25th man on the roster had his reasons for doing what he did. Whatever they are. “I don’t know that there’s necessarily an answer I can give that really ties it all together, sums it up and makes everybody go, ‘OK, that makes sense,’ ’’ he said. “Because that answer doesn’t exist in my eyes. There’s a lot more that goes into it than that.’’ La Stella called it a privacy issue, and I might agree if it weren’t for the fact that his boycott has been anything but private since he sat for 20 days before reporting to Double-A Tennessee. When he does return, all we get for an explanation is Rose Mary Woods erasing 18 minutes of the Nixon tapes? Doesn’t seem quite fair. The closest he came to a reason was when he said that his attitude toward the game had changed. He said he lost some of the joy of a team sport last season as he focused on his individual stats. “That’s kind of what detracted from my enjoyment of the game in the first place,’’ he said. “So this year for me, it was not about that. It was kind of going back to the way I used to play it when it was more enjoyable – high school, college when you were going for something collectively as a group and you could kind of share and enjoy in your teammates’ successes as though they were you own. This year was a lot better for me.’’ Which makes his decision not to accept his minor-league assignment even more bewildering. How does a team player not do what is asked of him? “I know some people portrayed it as if he was quitting on the team,’’ Cubs president Theo Epstein said. “The way he was thinking about it, he wasn’t. He was in essence reflecting the passion that he had for the team and his teammates, and he saw his role as being here to support the other 24 guys. And in his mind I think he was acting consistently with that.’’ If I blow off my wife’s birthday party, I can tell her it’s my way of supporting her. “Again, you may think it was misguided,’’ Epstein said. “I may have thought it was misguided and would have hoped that he would have handled it differently. But his motives were almost pure in a sense, as funny as that sounds.’’ Again, I’m confused. It’s nice that the Cubs are in a position to be compassionate, but where does La Stella’s boycott fit in with the team’s proclaimed emphasis on unselfishness? Maddon said he saw the opposite in the affair and its aftermath, especially La Stella’s comments to the team.

“I just loved the way that whole moment worked because that truly indicated that everything we’ve been attempting to put together this year was real – that they are a group, they are one, they are a team,’’ Maddon said. “They sat there, they listened, and very intelligently and respectfully talked with him about it. Perfect. “For me, it couldn’t have happened any better, and actually I thought it could be a galvanizing moment moving forward.’’ Should we worry about a guy who isn’t 100 percent devoted to the game, or should we applaud it? If somebody is struggling with his place in the world, even if it means passing up a possible World Series title, it would show a lot of conviction. It would be brave. But it’s hard to know what to make of this. Because La Stella wasn’t saying. He was asked Wednesday if he missed the game while he sat out. “I missed the guys,’’ he said. Confusing. So very confusing. -- Chicago Sun-Times Hammel beats Pirates in strong response to weekend hook By Gordon Wittenmyer Whether Jason Hammel is pitching the rest of the season for a chance at a playoff start, he certainly looked like a man with a purpose Wednesday night – just four days after getting hacked off by his manager’s early hook. Moved up a day in the rotation because of that mere 39-pitch start in Los Angeles, Hammel pitched six strong innings at Wrigley Field to beat the Pirates 6-5 and complete a three-game sweep of the division rivals. ‘Yeah, I wanted to get back out there,” Hammel (14-7) said after handing off a 5-1 lead to the bullpen. “The last one didn’t sit well with me. So far, so good.” Hammel, who said he added liberal use of his changeup to make a difference on a night he didn’t have his best slider, stranded runners at third in the second and fourth innings as he nursed a 1-0 lead through the top of the fourth and a 2-0 lead into the fifth before giving up a run. “Outstanding,” manager Joe Maddon said, adding he saw a seven- or eight-inning start from Hammel until that three-walk fifth. Kris Bryant added a 36th home run to his growing MVP case for the first-inning lead, and he singled leading off the fourth and scored – as the Cubs went 22-6 in August, their best August since 1932 (also 22-6). It was their highest win total for any month since 1945 (22-10 in September). And shortstop Addison Russell turned in another play for the year-end highlights – sprinting near the line in left field for a sliding catch to end the seventh with the bases loaded. As the Cubs entered September with a season-high 15-game division lead and a magic number of just 16 for clinching, the big question for the start of October is nearing fast: Who makes the Cubs’ playoff rotation – and in what order will they line up as the team’s postseason run begins Oct. 7 at Wrigley Field.

Veteran John Lackey, a veteran of two World Series-clinching starts, is expected to return from the disabled list to start Sunday against the Giants. And if his shoulder stays healthy down the stretch, he’s all but certain to be in the playoff rotation. The Cubs have another three starters who are among the top Cy Young candidates entering the final month, including the major-league ERA leader in Kyle Hendricks and the reigning National League Cy Young winner in Jake Arrieta. And Jon Lester, one of the steadiest starters in the rotation all year, also is the only other one with as many World Series rings as Lackey. Where does that leave Hamel? What does he have to do to merit a starting role in the postseason? “Stay healthy, and we’ll see what happens,” manager Joe Maddon said before Wednesday’s start. “I want to get to the playoffs first of all. I’m not going to say anything until that day actually occurs. I don’t bet the come.” Until a pair of rough outings during the recent road trip west, Hammel was the hottest starter out of the All-Star break – 6-0 with a 0.95 ERA in his first six post-break starts. By Saturday, he was yanked in the third inning of a 3-1 game at Dodger Stadium, visibly upset and angry enough to meet behind closed doors with Maddon afterward. “That’s in the rear-view mirror now. Joe and I talked it out,” he said. “There’s no room for off-the-field BS or disagreements or holding a grudge. We’re grown men. We solved it. “To carry something like that would really mess up something special we’ve got going on right now.” Sun-Times Cubs rotation power rankings The Cubs rotation leads the majors (2.89) by more than 60 ERA points – and finished August 17-2 with a 2.16 ERA for the month. At this rate, the team’s toughest call of the year will be deciding on a playoff rotation. Here’s how the starters rank today: 1. Kyle Hendricks (13-7, 2.09): So nasty right now Rizzo “can’t say the word” 2. Jon Lester (14-4, 2.70): ICYMI: He threw out a guy on the bases in SD 3. Jake Arrieta (16-5, 2.84): Only 3rd? “Open your [expletive] eyes” 4. Jason Hammel (14-7, 3.14): On mission after 39-pitch “side day” in LA? 5. Mike Montgomery (0-0, 3.86): Forcing Cubs to consider 6-man rotation 6. Trevor Cahill (0-0, 0.00): Most consistent starter since 8/16 (0 ER/0 GS) NR: John Lackey (9-7, 3.41, on DL), Adam Warren (0-0, 1.80, traded to Yankees), Brian Matusz (0-0, 18.00, back in minors). Note: All stats for part-time starters are for Cubs starts only. -- Chicago Sun-Times After betting on himself, Samardzija returns for Wrigley showdown By Gordon Wittenmyer When Jeff Samardzija talks about how quick and impressive the Cubs’ turnaround has been since he was making Opening Day starts for the team, he includes the money spent on free agents. “That’s a big part of it, too,” he says. Wait, wasn’t Samardzija the guy they were going to spend the big money on? Apparently, that’s funny, because Samardzija laughs.

“That was a long time ago,” he says. When Samardzija takes the mound for the Giants Thursday as the first Cubs Opening Day starter to start for another team at Wrigley since Jon Lieber in 2005, he’ll be just 26 months removed from the trade the netted the Cubs Addison Russell from the Athletics. He’ll be less than 27 months removed from the Cubs’ last multiyear offer before trading him – less than 10 from a meeting with Cubs president Theo Epstein at a Southport pub to talk about returning on a value-building, one-year, albeit, generous, deal. But that’s not what’s on his mind as the calendar turns to September with the Giants in a tight National League West race. “It’s time to put up or shut up,” he said. “It’s that time of the year.” Specifically, as he takes the mound Thursday, he has beating the Cubs on his mind to open the Giants’ September stretch drive. “That should be a pretty crazy experience, for sure,” said Samardzija, who pitched against the Cubs for the White Sox on the South Side last year. “Anytime September baseball’s happening, it’s exciting, especially when two teams are in the hunt and looking to be playing good going into the [postseason].” When the Cubs negotiated with Samardzija the two seasons leading up to his trade to Oakland, they envisioned him as core piece to this contender, if at a hometown discount. The big right-hander, who lobbied to become a starter as Epstein took over before the 2012 season, bet on himself instead. Neither side has looked back. Samardzija, who signed a five-year, $90 million deal with the Giants over the winter, is pitching this month to put the Giants in the playoffs and earn his first postseason start – and what would be his first playoff appearance since he was a rookie reliever with the Cubs’ 2008 division champion. “I’ve been through a lot of experiences in my sports career to understand that September starts in the fall with two teams in it – you’re probably going to get a handful of those in your life,” said the former Notre Dame football star who was touted as a big-stage performer for the Cubs. “Regardless of the opponent, or who you’re playing for, you don’t want to waste those opportunities,” Samardzija (11-9, 4.00) said, “just because they’re special moments.” Samardzija, who has a 1.75 ERA over his last four starts, has no regrets about spurning the Cubs’ one-year proposal as he and the Giants fight for their playoff lives over the next month. He also said it’s not surprising the Cubs are where they are heading into the four-game weekend series. “You’ve still got to go out and do it,” he said, “and that’s the thing that they’ve done really well. They’ve had the chips, but they’ve also gone out and proved they can play together and win close games, too. That’s always a telling sign of how things are going for a team.” If the Cubs are embracing targets, Samardzija – a first-time father this year – is embracing the opportunity he has over the next five years with a team that has won three of the past six World Series. Starting now, this September, this start in his old home ballpark. “I remember being in college and everyone would say enjoy running out of that tunnel,” he said. “I’m like, `I’ve got four years here; I’m not too worried about it.’ Then you blink and it’s over.

“When it’s all said and done, I just don’t want to leave anything out there on the table and to know that in those games you showed up, gave it all you had and had fun doing it, and enjoyed the moments.” -- Chicago Sun-Times La Stella back but for how long? Doesn’t rule out retiring at 27 By Gordon Wittenmyer As inconclusive and vague as Tommy La Stella’s explanation was Wednesday for his three-week refusal to accept a minor-league assignment, the root seemed to go back to his internal debate after last season about whether to retire. The backup infielder, who returned to the team Wednesday, mentioned his lengthy recovery from two oblique injuries last year and how the game was “not nearly as enjoyable” trying to perform and produce numbers. He came back this year with a more personal focus on relationships, he suggested. And he didn’t rule out retiring at 27 after this season. “I don’t know. I don’t want to say something, because I don’t have an answer,” said La Stella after more than of controversy created by his decision to go AWOL and the club’s to allow his return without punishment. He has no specific career alternative in mind, he said. La Stella, who addressed teammates before the game in a meeting he requested, said he was prepared for the front office to release him when he refused to report to the minors after he was optioned July 290 because of a roster numbers crunch. And team president Theo Epstein definitely considered it. “We were taken by surprise by his decision, and I think the initial, visceral reaction was to do something punitive, like a suspension or release or something like that,” said Epstein, who eventually put La Stella on the temporary inactive list to preserve the minor-league roster spot. “But we didn’t act on our initial, visceral instinct and instead took time to talk to him and find out what was going on in his head. “After having those conversations, while I felt like he wasn’t handling it the way I would have liked and he may have been making a mistake, I felt like it was the type of mistake that we could work with him, to grow from. And it wasn’t a mistake that we wanted to punish him for. “We felt it was more misguided and not malevolent, so we wanted to work with him to get him back to this point. I’m glad we did.” La Stella, went 0-for-2 with a pair of grounders to second after a smattering of mixed boos and cheers his first at-bat, before he was replaced by pinch-hitter Javy Baez after a Pirates pitching change in the sixth. “I understand that there are going to be people out there that kind of draw conclusions and stuff. I’m not necessarily out here to make anybody see anything or explain anything,” said La Stella, citing private reasons that he said are baseball related and involve no mental or physical personal problems. “There’s not necessarily going to be a cut-and-dried, black-and-white answer,” he said. “That answer doesn’t really exist.” Notes: Nearly eight months after team officials made a contract extension for their lame-duck team president sound imminent, Epstein still has not been extended. Calling the situation “status quo,” Epstein said: “It’s going to

happen. It just hasn’t happened yet.” … Right-hander Joe Smith and outfielder Chris Coghlan are expected to be activated from the disabled list when rosters expand Thursday, but other callups could trickle in over the ensuing few days. … Epstein said the club had decided to recall La Stella for Monday’s homestand opener, but pitching needs on the roster delayed his return. … Right-hander Spencer Patton was optioned to AAA Iowa to make room on the 25-man roster for La Stella. Barring an injury need on the big-league roster, Patton is required to stay in the minors until the season ends on Monday. … The Cubs went 23-7 (.767) since between La Stella’s boycott and his return. … Third baseman Kris Bryant boosted his MVP campaign heading into September with his 36th home run for a 1-0 lead in the first Wednesday, then led off the fourth with a single and eventually scored the Cubs second run of the night. -- Daily Herald La Stella back and in Chicago Cubs lineup By Bruce Miles Whether you wanted Tommy La Stella back or not, give the Chicago Cubs credit for taking a complicated situation and not trying to oversimplify it. The Cubs welcomed wayward son La Stella back Wednesday, recalling him from Class AAA Iowa and immediately inserting him into the starting lineup for the night's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. La Stella, a 27-year-old infielder, took about three weeks off after the Cubs optioned him to Iowa in late July. In one published report, he said he wanted to play for the Cubs and no one else. Instead of punishing La Stella, the Cubs gathered their resources, including sports psychologist Ken Ravizza, and kept in touch with the player. La Stella eventually reported to Class AA Tennessee, playing two games there beginning Aug. 22 before going to Iowa. "Certainly, under different circumstances, we would have taken some sort of punitive action," said team president Theo Epstein. "But after talking to him and taking the time to understand where he was coming from, things that have happened to him in the past, what his thought process was, I didn't think it was appropriate to be punitive. "I thought it was more appropriate to be supportive to a point and help him grow from it and get back to this point." La Stella addressed his teammates before making his way to the interview room to meet with the media and answer questions for close to 15 minutes late in the afternoon. He said he was not suffering from any personal-health problems and that the reasons for his absence were "personal" and related to baseball experiences. The Cubs obtained La Stella in November 2014 in a trade with the Atlanta Braves. He missed much of last season with a rib-cage injury. "It's a lot of stuff that's personal, between the injuries and kind of my journey through the game and everything like that that's gotten me to this point," he said. "It's not necessarily going to be a black-and-white, cut-and-dried answer where everybody goes, 'Oh, I get it now.' That answer doesn't really exist. "It's all stuff personal regarding baseball, related to baseball. Just that's happened throughout my career, not necessarily personal issues with me or anything like that. Just personal stuff throughout my career."

La Stella took his position at second base for the start of Wednesday's game and got a glove tap from right fielder Jason Heyward. There were a few boos from the crowd when La Stella came up to bat in the second, but for the most part the response was positive. "To be honest with you, that meeting with the guys was huge for me," La Stella said. "It was nice to get all that stuff off my chest and be open and honest with them about everything. "I couldn't not do what I felt was right for me because of how it might be perceived by other people." La Stella also thanked Epstein for the support and praised manager Joe Maddon for being "a comforting presence." "Theo's obviously a very special guy," he said. "I was very fortunate to be able to have the dialogue between me and him throughout this whole process. He understands people, and he treats you like a person. "He was talking to me like a guy. He wasn't talking to an employee, which I really, really appreciated throughout the whole process." La Stella added his leaving the Cubs had nothing to do with being upset about being sent to the minor leagues. "I know it sounds absurd to say, but it had absolutely had nothing to do with that," he said. "I made that very clear to Theo. I told him when it happened that I totally understood the move." La Stella added that he was unsure about his career beyond this year. He did say that his view of and love for the game has changed. "And that dates back to last year," he said. "It has changed a little bit. It's not nearly as enjoyable going out and pursuing for myself my at-bats, how I'm doing, everything like that. I got a taste of that last year. "Baseball is a team game played by individuals, so you do have to go for the individual aspect of it, but for me, that's kind of what detracted from my enjoyment of the game in the first place. "This year for me, it was not about that. It was about kind of going back to the way I used to play it when it was more enjoyable, high school and college when you were going for something collectively as a group and you can kind of share and enjoy your teammates' successes as well as your own." -- Cubs.com Cubs in rare position as September begins By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- It's been a very creative summer for the Cubs. As the magic number for the Cubs to clinch the National League Central title for the first time since 2008 reaches the teens, the only debates now are who came up with the best T-shirt design and who will win the NL Most Valuable Player Award. Manager Joe Maddon started the T-shirt craze in an effort to raise money for his Hazleton Integration Project, but some of the players have created their own, including Jon Lester's "Bunt to Win" and another from David Ross promoting Anthony Rizzo for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics because of his acrobatic catches. The MVP discussion focuses on Rizzo and Kris Bryant, who was the starting third baseman for the NL All-Star team, but also has played well in the outfield. Rizzo has a slight edge in RBIs over Bryant, while Bryant has hit more home runs. Whom do you pick? It depends on who delivers the game-winning hit that day. But they're not the only ones. The Cubs also have gotten plenty of offense from 22-year-old shortstop Addison Russell, who has set career highs in home runs and RBIs in his second season. He's done so well, Maddon has

moved him up in the lineup, ahead of Jason Heyward, who has played Gold Glove right field but has scuffled at the plate. They've all contributed to the Cubs' obscene run differential, which was more than 200 heading into September. Last season, Heyward watched the Cubs win 97 games to secure an NL Wild Card spot. He opted to leave St. Louis and sign with Chicago in the offseason. "We're a good team," Heyward said of the Cubs. "I said it in the offseason and earlier this year, when you have a team with this majority of young guys and they go into the playoffs and get experience -- any experience is good experience. They've shown to themselves and shown to everybody what they can do. I'm not surprised, by any means. It's fun for me to add to it and feed off them and let them feed off me." But the real reason the Cubs have run away with the NL Central is their pitching. All five starters -- Jake Arrieta, Lester, John Lackey, Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks -- have been in the top 20 in ERA for most of the season. Hendricks heads into September leading the Major Leagues with a 2.09 ERA. The right-hander went 4-0 with a 1.28 ERA in August. Remember, he's the fifth starter. The bullpen got a boost with the addition of flamethrower Aroldis Chapman, and once Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop return from the disabled list, the relief corps will be even more potent. Maddon has emphasized he's only thinking about today, and the players are trying not to look ahead. "It's definitely one game at a time, but it's starting to enter our minds of how many games do we have to win to clinch," Rizzo said. "We have to stay focused and keep playing." The Cubs' toughest test in September may be their first series of the month, when they host the Giants in a four-game series that starts Thursday. There are also six games remaining against the Cardinals (Sept. 12-14 at Busch Stadium; Sept. 23-25 at Wrigley Field), and one more Interleague series Sept. 9-11 in Houston. Besides keeping everyone healthy, Maddon's only concern is making sure the players get enough rest in the final month. Batting practice is optional most days. They may use a six-man rotation. Keep an eye out for more slogans, especially those linked to Ross. The 39-year-old catcher is retiring at the end of the season. The hottest T-shirt in the clubhouse? Those touting Grandpa Rossy. -- Cubs.com Cubs cap 22-win August with sweep of Bucs By Carrie Muskat and Adam Berry CHICAGO -- It felt like September at Wrigley Field on Wednesday night, a reminder that playoff baseball is right around the corner. The Cubs find themselves heading into the final month of the regular season with a substantial 15-game lead in the National League Central, while the Pirates have some work to do to stay in the Wild Card race. Kris Bryant smacked his 36th home run and Addison Russell drove in two runs and made an amazing catch to lift the Cubs to a 6-5 victory and a sweep of the Pirates. It was Chicago's 22nd win of the month, matching the best August record in franchise history of 22-6 set in 1932. This is the first time the Cubs have won 22 games in any month since the team went 22-10 in September 1945. "You never even imagine you'll have this kind of lead at this point in the season," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. Jason Hammel posted a quality start, and, more importantly, was allowed to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth. The right-hander was pulled after 2 1/3 innings on Saturday against the Dodgers, and on Wednesday, struck out six over six innings.

Ryan Vogelsong, making his sixth start since coming off the disabled list, took the loss as the Pirates closed August at 15-13. These two teams will meet once more this season, Sept. 26-29 at PNC Park. "I think we put up a good fight," said Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer, who had a two-run double in the eighth inning. "I think they know that when they play us, they're in for a battle -- and I think a lot of other teams know that as well. Just a matter of putting it all together, especially against a good team." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Wind currents: The wind was blowing in from the north at Wrigley Field and did not favor hitters, but Bryant didn't seem to mind, launching an 0-1 pitch from Vogelsong into the left-field bleachers in the first inning. He's the first Cubs player to top 35 home runs since Aramis Ramirez hit 38 in 2006. Bryant finished the month of August with 10 home runs and 22 RBIs. The third baseman also was sharp on defense, making a diving catch of Sean Rodriguez's liner to end the second, a nifty backhand play on Josh Harrison to end the third and a grab of Josh Bell's popup near the stands in the fourth. "That was kind of the plan -- you have to lower the launch angle with the wind," Bryant said jokingly of his home run. Gold Glove-worthy: The Pirates loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, and Justin Grimm struck out Bell but walked McCutchen to force in a run. Gregory Polanco then popped up toward the left-field foul line and Russell was able to run and snare the ball with an amazing off-balance catch. The 106 feet he raced to make the catch was the farthest Statcast™ has tracked a shortstop who made a catch on a ball with a hang time of less than 5.5 seconds. "That was one of the better catches I've seen," said Bryant, who had a front-row seat. "I thought it was [Matt] Szczur's ball and Addison comes out of nowhere. It's no surprise to me; he's been making plays like that all year long. That was huge in that situation. We had to really work for that win, and that was one of the plays that was a turning point." Walk this way: Hammel had trouble finding the strike zone in the fifth and walked two with two outs, including Vogelsong. Harrison hit an RBI single that Bryant deflected to cut the Cubs' lead in half, at 2-1, and Hammel then walked Bell to load the bases. Maddon, who had a quick hook with Hammel in his last start, let him face Andrew McCutchen, and Hammel struck him out on a 93-mph fastball to end the inning. Left in, knocked out: After Vogelsong escaped a jam in the fifth inning, retiring Rizzo to strand runners on the corners, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle let the veteran start the sixth against the middle of the Cubs' lineup. The move didn't pan out, as Vogelsong allowed a run and left the game without recording an out in the inning. In the end, Vogelsong was charged with five runs on six hits and three walks. "I felt like I made three mistakes in the middle of the plate and they hit all of them hard," Vogelsong said. "I've got to stay out of the middle. … You know they're going to give you pro at-bats and they're going to be tough outs." TRIPLE DIGITS For the first time since joining the Cubs, Aroldis Chapman pitched in his third straight game, and he picked up his 46th straight save against NL Central teams since August 2013. "That was his best stuff," Maddon said of Chapman, who had three wild pitches but struck out two. "Give the Pirates credit. Give Aroldis credit. The slider was really good, the fastball was 104 [mph] -- 104 was a base hit by [Francisco] Cervelli. I thought [Chapman] was really good. I think they turned that dial up a little bit. That at-bat by Mercer was outstanding." Mercer was the last batter Chapman faced, and eight of the 11 pitches in the at-bat were 100-plus mph. "It was really cool to watch him fight," Hurdle said of Mercer. "Spin, fastballs all over the place. We were able to work his count up over 30 [pitches]."

QUOTABLE "This team is going to be really good for a long time. These kids -- I say kids because I'm old -- they're impressive and continue to dazzle. You can't really say 'surprise,' because we've come to expect all these great plays and the big knocks they're driving in. We're witnessing greatness with a lot of young kids now." -- Hammel, on the young Cubs "I wasn't going to go down without a fight, for sure. What do you got to lose, right? He throws the hardest ball ever. Just battle and hope for the best." -- Mercer, on his game-ending, 11-pitch strikeout against Chapman SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Vogelsong reached 10 years of Major League service time on Wednesday, a rare achievement and sign of veteran status. His teammates surprised him after the game with a cake and a round of applause. The Cubs have a 2.68 ERA in 67 home games, the lowest home ERA in the Majors. WHAT'S NEXT Pirates: After an off-day in Pittsburgh on Thursday, the Pirates will begin a stretch of 18 games in 17 days as they take on the Brewers at PNC Park on Friday. Rookie right-hander Jameson Taillon will start for the Bucs, looking to redeem himself after a rough outing in Milwaukee. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. Cubs: Mike Montgomery will make his third start for the Cubs and third against an NL West team on Thursday, facing the Giants in the opener of a four-game series at Wrigley Field. The lefty may get another start as the Cubs are trying to decide whether to go with a six-man rotation once John Lackey returns from the disabled list. First pitch will be 7:05 p.m. CT. Outfielder Chris Coghlan is expected to be activated from the DL and join the team. -- Cubs.com Pitt stop: Russell's great grab key for Cubs By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Kris Bryant wasn't too surprised at Addison Russell's acrobatic catch during Wednesday night's 6-5 win over the Pirates. Bryant's had a front-row seat for all of the Cubs shortstop's amazing plays. The Cubs led, 5-1, when the Pirates loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. Justin Grimm struck out Josh Bell but walked Andrew McCutchen to force in a run. Gregory Polanco then popped up toward the foul line in left field. That's when Russell took off. The shortstop chased after the ball and was able to snare it as he fell, ending the inning. Statcast™ tracked the ball's hang time at 5.4 seconds, and Russell ran 106 feet to make the catch. That's the farthest Statcast™ has tracked a shortstop who made a catch on a ball with a hang time of less than 5.5 seconds. He reached 19.3 mph on his dash, which had a route efficiency of 98.5 percent. Russell also likely kept the Pirates from tying the game, as all three runners were moving on contact with two outs. He was pumped after the play, and yelled, as did the 38,137 at Wrigley Field. "I just got a good read on the ball," Russell said. "I anticipated him hitting it up the middle and he hit it the other way. I thought there was no way I was going to make that play, but I hustled over there and got a glove on it and just made the play. It was awesome." It looked like Russell might have tripped before he caught it.

"It was more like running and like a one-legged jump slide," Russell said. "I had to track the ball into my glove because going over there toward that line. I really didn't know where the foul line was at and where the bullpen was at. I put my head down and last second, just tried to track it." "He has this ability to make that kind of play, whether it's a popup or ground ball," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He's been nothing short of spectacular." It's just another play to add to an already long highlight reel of Russell gems. "That was one of the better catches I've seen," Bryant said. "I thought it was [left fielder Matt] Szczur's ball and Addison comes out of nowhere. It's no surprise to me; he's been making plays like that all year long. That was huge in that situation. We had to really work for that win and that was one of the plays that was a turning point." Bryant said he didn't have a chance to get the ball and tried to stay out of the way. "I thought it would be Matt's all the way, but the wind pushed it back a bit," Bryant said. "It's almost like [Russell] dove too early and still caught it. I had a front-row seat, and that was one of the best catches I've seen." The young shortstop also drove in two runs, hitting an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. He leads the team with 24 multi-RBI games and leads all National League shortstops with 86 RBIs. -- Cubs.com Hammel bounces back to earn 14th win By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Jason Hammel may not have been happy at being pulled after 2 1/3 innings in his last start, but the Cubs right-hander didn't want to be a distraction and got back on track Wednesday night. Hammel posted a quality start and picked up his 14th win in the Cubs' 6-5 victory over the Pirates. It was his sixth straight win at home, and he's compiled an 0.69 ERA in that stretch, giving up three earned runs over 39 innings. He wasn't happy with the early exit Saturday, and met with manager Joe Maddon after that game in Los Angeles. "That's rear-view mirror now," Hammel said. "Joe and I talked it out. There's no room for off-the-field b.s. or disagreements or to hold a grudge. He told me how he felt. I told him how I felt. We're grown men; we solved it. You have to respect each other's views and opinions. To carry something like that would mess up something special." Hammel had thrown 39 pitches and gave up three runs in the Cubs' 3-2 loss to the Dodgers, and the Cubs had flip-flopped him with lefty Mike Montgomery, who was coming off a 91-pitch outing. Montgomery will face the Giants on Thursday. "The last one didn't sit well with me, and so far, so good," said Hammel, who struck out six and walked three over six innings, giving up one run. "He was pounding the strike zone pretty much," Maddon said of the right-hander's Wednesday win. "He's pitched well here; that's part of the gig, too. Early on, he took command better and got off to a better start." Hammel tested the Cubs' patience in the fifth when he walked three, including pitcher Ryan Vogelsong, but he escaped a bases-loaded mess. He also got plenty of help from his defense, highlighted by a stellar catch by shortstop Addison Russell to end the seventh and leave the bases loaded. "We're spoiled with the defense we have," Hammel said. "Just put it in play."

What was the difference for the right-hander? Hammel said he threw more changeups than he had in previous outings, and they were effective. "I felt like, overall, I was able to add a new pitch, and that goes into the scouting report to different teams," he said. "I shocked myself at how good [the changeup] was." -- Cubs.com Giants to follow ex-Cub Samardzija into Wrigley By Justin Wise In what could serve as a postseason preview, the Giants and Cubs begin a four-game series Thursday at Wrigley Field in an MLB Plus and MLB Network Showcase game. The Giants took two of three games from the Cubs when the teams met in San Francisco in May. But that was before the All-Star break. Since the Midsummer Classic, San Francisco has struggled to string together wins, and the club enter this four-game set having lost 10 of its last 17 games. "It's a case of us putting it all together," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "There's no easy answer, but we've got to pitch well and get these bats going." Putting everything together against the Cubs is certainly a tall task. Chicago enters Thursday as winners of 11 of the 15 series it has played in since the break. In addition, the Cubs own the best home record in the Majors. Mike Montgomery will take the mound for Chicago. The left-hander is 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA in just two starts this season. The Giants will turn to former Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija. The first-year Giant has battled with inconsistency throughout the season, but he pitched like an ace in August. He is 2-1 with a 1.75 ERA in his last four starts. Things to know about this game • Montgomery will pitch Thursday on an extra day of rest after throwing a season-high 91 pitches in his last start against the Dodgers. • Giants center fielder Denard Span was out of the lineup because of a stiff neck Wednesday, and he's listed as day to day. • Giants reliever Josh Osich and outfielder Mac Williamson are expected to be activated from the disabled list Thursday. -- Cubs.com La Stella rejoins Cubs, addresses teammates By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Tommy La Stella, who opted to go home rather than report to the Minor Leagues when he was optioned to Triple-A Iowa in late July, rejoined the Cubs on Wednesday and addressed his teammates in what manager Joe Maddon said could be a "galvanizing moment" for the club. "He's back, he talked to the boys, he's done everything properly and he's ready to participate for the rest of the season," Maddon said. It's not that simple, though. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein admitted that his initial reaction to La Stella's decision to go home rather than join the Minor League team was to punish the infielder and possibly release him. But Epstein said they took time to talk to La Stella.

"After having those conversations, while I felt like he wasn't handling it the way I would've liked, and he may have been making a mistake, I felt like it was the type of mistake we could work with him to grow from and it wasn't a mistake that we wanted to punish him for," Epstein said. "I can understand different people coming from different perspectives, maybe with not quite all the information or not privy to those conversations, might not understand that, and I get it, but I think we handled it the right way as an organization. "This is actually a good outcome. This is not how we'll handle it every time. Hopefully we're not in this situation again." The Cubs wanted to call up La Stella on Monday but opted to keep an extra pitcher after a tough West Coast trip. An extra-inning game on Monday against the Pirates further delayed the promotion. Right-hander Spencer Patton was optioned to Iowa to open a roster spot on Wednesday. La Stella asked to talk to his teammates prior to Wednesday's finale against the Pirates. "I felt it was important that they had all the information from my side and how I got to where I got to," La Stella said, although he would not go into details regarding his reasons during a 15-minute session with the media. "I understand there will be people out there who draw conclusions, and that's fine," La Stella said. "I'm not here to make anybody see anything or explain anything, as long as people understand there are things out there that are personal to me, and I shared those with the guys. It's not necessarily a cut-and-dry, black-and-white answer for everybody." La Stella did say his decision to go home was not because he was upset at being demoted to the Minors, but more to "stuff that's happened throughout my career." He eventually reported to Double-A Tennessee on Aug. 17 and played in two games before joining Iowa. In six games with Iowa, he was 6-for-23 (.261) with two doubles. La Stella knows it may be difficult for some to understand why he walked away and risked his career. "I don't know that there's an answer I can give that ties it all together and sums it up and makes everybody go, 'OK, that makes sense,'" La Stella said. "That answer doesn't really exist in my eyes. There's a lot more that goes into it." Epstein said La Stella was reacting to things that had happened to him in the past, and his behavior wasn't in any way malevolent or damaging the team concept. "You may think it was misguided -- I may have thought it was misguided and would've hoped he handled it differently -- but his motives were almost pure, in a sense, as funny as it sounds," Epstein said. "We thought it was more appropriate to work with him." Maddon and Epstein were in the clubhouse when La Stella spoke to his teammates. Epstein called it an important step and felt it was meaningful that La Stella wanted to do that. "I'm sure there is a broad spectrum of reactions [from the players]," Epstein said. "Most were 100 percent supportive and wanted to embrace him. I think others wanted to learn more and I think others were skeptical. The fact that he handled it directly, face to face with them in an open and transparent way, the result of that meeting was that all of the players are embracing him and moving forward together, which makes it a satisfactory and positive resolution to the whole saga, which is what we were hoping for the whole time." Maddon said it could be a "galvanizing moment." "I would've been surprised if he had not been accepted," Maddon said. "I love the way the whole moment worked because it truly indicated everything we attempted to put together this year is real. They are a group, they are one, they are a team." Did La Stella miss the game?

"I missed the guys," La Stella said. "The game to me is kind of the avenue for the other type of enjoyment I get through those guys and the stuff we do together." -- Cubs.com Cubs' top 2 prospects headed to Fall League By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Ian Happ and Eloy Jimenez, the top two prospects in the Cubs organization, according to MLB.com's rankings, will play for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League. Happ and Jimenez will be joined by catcher Victor Caratini, ranked No. 15 on the Cubs' Top 30 Prospects list, and four pitchers, including right-hander Duane Underwood, who is ranked sixth. Underwood, 22, a second-round pick in 2012, will start for Mesa. The other Cubs prospects on the Mesa roster include three right-handed pitchers. James Farris, who starred at the University of Arizona before he was drafted by the Cubs in the ninth round in 2014, will be joined by Ryan McNeil, a third-round pick in 2012 who has played at Class A Myrtle Beach this season, and Steve Perakslis, a 21st-round selection in 2012. Jimenez, 19, was named the Midwest League Most Valuable Player, Prospect of the Year, and an end of the season All-Star. While playing for Class A South Bend, he has led the league in doubles, slugging percentage, OPS and RBIs and was among the top five in batting average and extra base hits. Happ, 22, the Cubs' first-round pick in the 2015 Major League Draft, played at Class A Myrtle Beach and also Double-A Tennessee this season. Worth noting • Chris Coghlan, who was been on the disabled list since Aug. 17 with a right rib contusion, was expected to be activated on Thursday when rosters expand. Cubs manager Joe Maddon did not reveal any other potential callups. -- ESPNChicago.com Joe Maddon on Cubs' 15-game September lead: 'I would never have dreamt that' By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO – Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon simply shook his head in disbelief after his team’s latest victory, a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. It’s a rare moment when Maddon is at a loss for words, but when asked if he is surprised that his team has a commanding, 15-game lead in the National League Central as the calendar turns to September, Maddon stammered. “Oh, yeah, c’mon,” he said with that head shake. “Absolutely. I would never have dreamt that. No, not at all. You could never imagine you’d have this kind of a lead at this particular point in the season.” Sometimes dreams do come true, as the Cubs lowered their magic number to 16 while beating the Pirates for a mind-boggling 12th time in 15 contests this season. How does a team get to this point, with a franchise-record 22 wins in August in the process? It starts with pitching, always pitching. “You can’t have an outstanding month like that without starting [pitching],” Maddon said. “You can’t. It’s impossible.” The Cubs' NL-leading 2.66 August ERA isn’t just about what’s happening on the mound, though. It’s also about what’s happening behind it.

“We’re spoiled with the defense we have,” pitcher Jason Hammel said. “We have two catch-of-the-year nominees.” The first happened a few weeks ago, when Anthony Rizzo scaled the wall in foul territory to make a grab, but Addison Russell's diving stab near the foul line behind third base to end Wednesday's seventh inning with the bases loaded might have topped it. “I thought there was no way I was going to make that play,” Russell said of the Gregory Polanco popup. “Just got a good read on the ball. I anticipated him hitting it up the middle, but he hit it the other way. Pounced on it as quick as I can.” Russell pumped his fist as he and third baseman Kris Bryant enjoyed the moment together. You get the feeling that those two will be enjoying many moments together as the left side of the Cubs' young core. On Wednesday, the duo combined for three hits, three RBIs, three runs scored and a home run, Bryant’s 36th. Russell drove in his 85th and 86th runs of the season and Bryant his 90th. Then there was the defense. Russell had his stellar play, and Bryant made three good ones of his own in the first three innings. “This team is going to be really good for a long time,” Hammel said in reference, in part, to Bryant and Russell. “They continue to dazzle -- can’t say surprise because we’ve come to expect all these great plays and the big knocks they're driving in. We’re witnessing greatness with a lot of young kids right now.” Russell and Bryant have combined for 55 home runs and 176 runs driven in, and they’re just 22 and 24 years old, respectively. Maybe the most telling or important moment between the two was the least exciting one of the night. With Rizzo on third base and one out in the seventh inning, Russell hit a fly ball to right-center to bring home the Cubs' sixth run. That’s the type of baseball that will be needed come October ... along with stellar defense, of course. “He just moved the baseball,” Maddon said. “That’s what we need to get done in those moments. He’s been amazing.” Maddon raved about Bryant and Russell for a few minutes longer, then remembered that there were other heroes in August. Even without two of their top relievers, the Cubs thrived. That might have surprised the manager the most. “I would never have guessed that,” Maddon stated. "You talk about that month and say [Pedro] Strop ... and [Hector] Rondon were unavailable for most of it, and you did that well? That’s the part that would not have made any sense to me whatsoever.” Maddon can’t be alone in that regard as the Cubs' dream season enters its final month, with the countdown to clinching taking center stage. -- ESPNChicago.com Understanding Tommy La Stella won't be easy, but moving on should be By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO – To even possibly start to understand Chicago Cubs infielder Tommy La Stella, you have to put aside everything you know of professional athletes. Most of the time they’re driven and have a passion for their sport – or at least a drive and passion for money and fame – but La Stella isn’t interested in any of that. In returning to the Cubs on Wednesday, after first refusing a minor league assignment, he did his best to explain what he’s going through, though a confused group of reporters had a hard time understanding any of it. “It’s not going to be a cut-and-dry, black-and-white answer where everyone goes, ‘Yeah, I get it now,’” La Stella said.

That doesn’t mean La Stella didn’t try. His most telling statement came toward the end of nearly 15 minutes of explaining himself before going 0-for-2 against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his return later that night. “It’s not nearly as enjoyable going out and pursuing for myself,” he said of playing baseball. “My at-bats, how I’m doing, everything like that. I got a taste of that last year. Baseball is a team game played by individuals ... for me, it’s kind of what detracted from my enjoyment of the game in the first place. This year was not about that. It was kind of about going back to the way I used to play it when it was more enjoyable in high school and college.” That statement is why simply calling La Stella a selfish, whiny child would be to misinterpret what he’s going through. And the Cubs agreed. “His motives were almost pure in a sense, as funny as it sounds,” Cubs president Theo Epstein said. “Everyone who took the time to talk to Tommy ... felt like the best thing to do was to help him and to try and get back to this point where he could be with the team again, rather than punish him and take a tough situation worse or permanent.” La Stella was fully prepared to be released, or at least deal with the consequences from the fans. He knows he might face an awkward moment or two over the final months of the season, and he’s fine with it. Manager Joe Maddon refused to take the bait when asked repeatedly if the team reacted the right way in helping but not punishing La Stella. “Common sense should prevail,” he said. “This is a common-sense way of looking at this whole thing. To label Tommy as a malcontent is absolutely incorrect and inappropriate. Tommy is a thoughtful young man who thought differently in this moment.” At the end of the day, it’s hard to lose sleep over a situation about which La Stella’s employers and seemingly his teammates are not losing any over. His address to the team before Wednesday’s game was the biggest step in his return. “That’s between me and them, me and Theo,” La Stella said. “My journey through the game has gotten me to this point. I’m not out here to make people see anything or explain anything. There are things out there that are personal to me. “That meeting with the guys was huge for me. It was nice to get all that stuff off my chest and be open and honest with them about everything.” Maybe the manager’s final thought on the matter is the best one, considering no one may completely understand why La Stella did what he did. “It’s time to move forward,” Maddon said. -- ESPNChicago.com Joe Maddon on Tommy La Stella return: 'I was witnessing a team at its best' By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- The Cubs recalled infielder Tommy La Stella from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, weeks after La Stella failed to report to the minors after he was sent down at the end of July. La Stella, 27, told ESPN that he contemplated retirement if he couldn't play for the Cubs' major league team, though he stressed that he wasn't upset with management for sending him down, as he was simply caught in a number's game. On Wednesday, La Stella addressed his teammates and tried to further explain his motivations, beginning with his enjoyment of the game of baseball.

"It has changed," he said. "It dates back to last year. It has changed a little bit. It's not nearly as enjoyable going out and pursuing for myself. My at-bats, how I'm doing, everything like that, I got a taste of that last year. Baseball is a team game played by individuals ... for me, it's kind of what detracted from my enjoyment of the game in the first place. This year was not about that. "It was kind of about going back to the way I used to play it, when it was more enjoyable in high school and college. When you were going for something collectively as a group, and you can share in your teammates' successes as though it was your own. This year was a lot better for me." Cubs management decided to work with La Stella instead of punishing him for not reporting right away. "Under different circumstances, we would have taken punitive action, but after talking to him and taking the time to understand where he was coming from, things that happened to him in the past, what his thought process was, I didn't think it was appropriate to be punitive," Cubs president Theo Epstein said. "I thought it was more appropriate to be supportive to a point." After he went home to New Jersey at the beginning of August, the team placed La Stella on the inactive list. After about two weeks, La Stella decided to report to Double-A Tennessee and then to Iowa before he was recalled Wednesday. He didn't reveal publicly all his reasons for staying away, but he opened up to his teammates. Manager Joe Maddon said it was best to use "common sense" in dealing with La Stella and said he is pleased with the outcome. "I thought I was witnessing a team at its best," Maddon said of the meeting. "[He] went away for a bit, came back, talked to the guys, welcomed him back. I think everything worked properly. "Tommy is a thoughtful young man who thought a different way in this particular moment. Let's try to get to the root of it, and we did." La Stella was in the starting lineup Wednesday, batting seventh and playing second base. He went 0-for-2 in the Cubs' 6-5 win, but he could be an important left-handed bat for the Cubs as they near the playoffs. He feels fortunate that the team was understanding but said he was prepared for the worst, including a release. "I didn't expect anything, but that was a very real possibility that I was fully prepared for," La Stella said. "Theo is a very special guy. I was very fortunate to have the dialogue between me and him throughout this whole process. He understands people." Pitcher Spencer Patton was sent down to make room for La Stella, who was hitting .295 with a .388 on-base percentage before his demotion. --