February 17, 2015

 Daily Herald, Cubs bullpen ready to answer questions http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150216/sports/150219029/

 Cubs.com, Excitement in air for new-look Cubs heading into camp http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/109355018/excitement-in-air-for-new-look-cubs-heading-into-spring- training

 ESPNChicago.com, preview: The outfield http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/28689/spring-preview-the-outfield

 CSNChicago.com, will be under the microscope at Cubs camp http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/starlin-castro-will-be-under-microscope-cubs-camp

 Chicago Tribune, Dispute deepens over Ernie Banks' posthumous wishes http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-ernie-banks-remains-20150216-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Former Cubs Wendell Kim dies at 64 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-wendell-kim-spt-0217-20150216-story.html

 Chicago Sun-Times, Ernie Banks' family surprised by new will, plans to contest it http://chicago.suntimes.com/news-chicago/7/71/373095/ernie-banks-family-says-surprised-new-will-plans- contest

--

Daily Herald Cubs bullpen ready to answer questions By Bruce Miles

If the Cubs should have learned one thing from 2014, it's this: You don't have to waste money on a big-time , especially if you're rebuilding.

Like most teams, the Cubs learned the hard way. After inheriting Carlos Marmol from the previous regime, Cubs president Theo Epstein and general Jed Hoyer opted to sign closer Kyuji Fujikawa out of Japan before the 2013 season, even though the team was nowhere near to being a contender.

Fujikawa ended up needing Tommy John surgery early in the 2013 season, and he essentially became a two-year waste of good money.

Epstein and Hoyer tried again last year, with veteran Jose Veras. They cut their losses early with the ineffective Veras, letting him go in early June.

Eventually winning the job and excelling was inexpensive second-year man Hector Rondon, a Rule 5 draft pick before the 2013 season. Rondon finished with 29 saves in 33 chances and stabilized what turned out to be a decent bullpen for most of the season.

Bullpens are finicky creatures from year to year, and the Cubs face their share of questions from the sixth or seventh on. Here are the main concerns:

Is Rondon the real deal?

There's no reason to think he isn't, but if the Cubs push toward contention, Rondon will be operating in more meaningful games with more pressure attached to them.

Rondon has a good and slider, and he keeps things simple on the mound. He had an ERA of 2.42 and a WHIP of 1.06 last year, both solid numbers.

If Rondon falters, the Cubs made a move to cover themselves this winter when they signed former St. Louis Cardinals closer to a free-agent deal worth $4.5 million for one year.

Motte saved 42 games in 2012 before missing the 2013 season because of elbow surgery. He worked his way back last year and appeared in 29 games for the Cards.

What about a lefty?

The Cubs traded stalwart -- and sometimes overworked -- James Russell at the July 31 deadline last year, leaving them without a veteran left-handed .

Zac Rosscup made 18 appearances with the big club last year, and he will be given a long look in spring training. It's possible Felix Doubront could work as a middle man if he doesn't crack the rotation, as could lefty .

Are they all right from right?

The strength of the Cubs' bullpen is from the right side. Pedro Strop had a shot at the closer's job last year before settling into a setup role along with Justin Grimm and Neil Ramirez.

Grimm was a workhorse, appearing in 73 games, so the Cubs might have to watch his workload.

The hard-throwing Ramirez needed a disabled-list break shortly after midseason because of triceps soreness. He bounced back nicely and wound up with 53 in 42⅔ . His ERA was 1.44, and his WHIP was 1.05.

Ramirez has a varied repertoire, and there has been talk of him becoming a starter, but the Cubs seem content on keeping him in the bullpen.

Park Ridge's Brian Schlitter made the team out of spring training last year, completing a remarkable comeback from injury problems that had plagued him throughout his pro career. The 29-year-old Schlitter worked in 61 games in his first major-league action since 2010.

--

Cubs.com Excitement in air for new-look Cubs heading into camp By Carrie Muskat

MESA, Ariz. -- Cousin Eddie, 's RV, has been parked in Mesa for most of the winter. At some point in Spring Training, it will likely appear at Cubs camp.

What other surprises will the new manager bring? That remains to be seen. Maddon takes over this week as the 54th manager in Cubs history, and the first with his own Twitter account.

"The thing with Joe that really resonates with me is he succeeded in Tampa under some pretty long odds," Chicago general manager Jed Hoyer said of Maddon, who managed the Rays from 2006-14. "It's a bad ballpark situation; they don't have a lot of fans, they don't have a lot of payroll, and he always had to figure out a way to find an edge to keep the team loose, to keep the team cohesive. We're very different here, but there are some challenges here that don't present themselves everywhere."

Some of those challenges include the facilities -- there's no cage near the dugout at Wrigley Field. There's also that long drought of not winning, which hovers over the Cubs. What Maddon will find in is a state-of- the-art facility, which opened last year, and which several players have taken advantage of prior to the start of organized workouts.

Shortstop Starlin Castro was among the early birds, along with , Jason Motte and Miguel Montero. Maddon was expected to get his first look on Monday in advance of Friday's first workout for and .

The addition of Maddon and Lester has amped up expectations for Cubs fans, weary after five consecutive fifth- place finishes in the Central.

"There's a definite buzz [this year], which is nice," Chicago president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "We've asked so much of our fans the past three years. ... Now it's nice to transition to a point where we're building the organization and we're building a Major League team that can compete, and our fans deserve to get excited about it."

How will Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks follow up on their standout 2014 seasons? Can Travis Wood and rebound from tough campaigns last year? Jason Hammel thrived with the Cubs before he was traded last July -- can he do that again?

The bullpen has some power arms in Justin Grimm, Neil Ramirez, Pedro Strop, Zac Rosscup and Hector Rondon. What will be veteran Motte's role? Where do new faces like lefties Drake Britton and Joseph Ortiz fit?

And what will the Cubs do with three catchers? They traded for Montero, signed free agent and still have Welington Castillo on the roster.

Maddon says his primary goal in Spring Training is to "build relationships and trust. Once I do that, we can have a free flow of constructive criticism back and forth."

That process begins this week.

Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 19.

Full squad reports Feb. 24.

First Spring Training game Home vs. Athletics; away vs. Giants (split squad), March 5, 2:05 p.m. CT

Opening Day Home vs. Cardinals, April 5, 7:05 p.m. CT

--

ESPNChicago.com Spring training preview: The outfield By Jesse Rogers

Spring training previews continue as pitchers and catchers report for the on Thursday. Today we examine the outfield.

Holdovers: Jorge Soler, Chris Coghlan, Ryan Sweeney, Junior Lake, Matt Szczur Newcomers: Chris Denorfia, Dexter Fowler, Mike Baxter (non-roster invitee), (non-roster invitee) Moved on: Justin Ruggiano,

There shouldn’t be a lot of drama in the outfield during spring training as roles already are pretty well defined. Soler is the clear starter in right field, Fowler is in center while Denorfia and Coghlan should split time in left field. Denorfia can also spell Soler in right if the Cubs want to keep a right-handed bat in the lineup when Soler has the day off or needs a breather.

Some might still be wondering why the Cubs gave backup Sweeney a two-year deal before last season. He has value but he’s been injury-plagued. One good thing about the left-handed Sweeney is he can provide a more than adequate at-bat against left-handed pitching. Having said that, the energetic Szczur is a better defender, which could come in handy late in games, but he’ll have trouble finding a roster spot unless Sweeney is elsewhere on opening day. With Alcantara’s ability to play the outfield, if needed, it doesn’t leave much room for a surprise player to emerge this spring. And with both Fowler and Alcantara being switch hitters manager Joe Maddon has tons of flexibility. The Cubs' 2012 top pick, Albert Almora, will get a long look this spring, but still needs minor league seasoning.

Lake’s fall from grace, after a nice start to his career in 2013, is a reminder that young players sometimes have that initial burst before the league catches up to them. Soler is/was a much better prospect than Lake coming into the league and already has displayed an understanding of the that Lake is still trying to find. It would be a major upset if Lake somehow made the team while Soler should improve off a 4:1 -to-walk ratio from his time in the majors last season. With a methodical ascent to the Cubs, partly due to injuries, there is no reason to believe Soler shouldn’t take off. He has five-tool ability, some experience under his belt and no one looking over his shoulder.

Also of interest will be watching Fowler, who is in a free-agent year, and Coghlan following his return to form last season. Both should be hungry -- Fowler to a payday next winter and Coghlan because he knows the opportunities are fleeting when things don’t go right. He cherished a chance last season and took advantage of it, posting a solid .352 on-base percentage.

All in all, the Cubs outfield has the potential to be a mix of all things including power and some speed. But more important than anything is all three positions have players with the ability to get on base better than anyone the Cubs have thrown out there over the past few years. Even newcomer Denorfia brings a career .331 on-base percentage as a role player. That ability will increase the Cubs' -scoring chances no matter what totals they put up out there. Simply put, the outfield is much better for that reason alone, but still isn't a complete product just yet.

--

CSNChicago.com Starlin Castro will be under the microscope at Cubs camp By Patrick Mooney

Starlin Castro will still be under the microscope.

Even with the Cubs making some high-profile additions to their foundation while incubating all that young talent.

Especially after a series of off-the-field incidents called the All-Star ’s judgment into question.

But there will definitely be a different vibe around Camp Maddon when $155 million man Jon Lester, two-time All- Star Miguel Montero and all the other pitchers and catchers officially report to spring training on Thursday in Arizona.

Castro has already played for , Mike Quade, and . Joe Maddon will make it five different managers during his first six seasons in the big leagues. During that time, the Cubs have spent only a few days above .500, never more than one game and never later than April, finishing in fifth place for five years in a row.

This season is supposed to be different, and not just because everyone is optimistic at this time of year. The Cubs aren’t in foreclosure mode before the first full-squad workout. It will be fun to see how Castro responds in games that matter.

“We got more talent than Tampa Bay,” Castro said. “I talked to a lot of guys and they (had good things to say about Maddon with the Rays). He’s a really positive guy.

“We can win. We got a good team.”

The Cubs pushed Castro to move his family out of the Dominican Republic after authorities questioned him about a nightclub shooting in late December. Castro’s family had gone to a concert where shots were fired a few weeks before that.

Castro wrote off the incidents as being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein took Castro relocating his family to Arizona as a gesture of good faith before spring training.

Castro has been blessed with incredible hand-eye coordination and strong internal drive. He doesn’t always have off-the-charts street smarts or self-awareness. But he will turn 25 next month and sees his best years ahead of him.

“With Starlin, one of these days we’ll stop saying this, but I think it’s so easy to forget how young he is,” Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. “You talk about a guy like ( ) George Springer. This guy’s a Rookie of the Year candidate and he’s older than Starlin. I think we forget that these kids go to U.S. colleges and then they sign and spend two or three years in the minors. (Starlin) was in the big leagues at 20.

“He’s been learning in the big leagues and that one year in 2013 (where) he struggled – if you look back now – was a blip on the radar. He’s had four full seasons and three of them he’s been an All-Star. That’s pretty hard to accomplish.”

Without the negative headlines – and if he hadn’t suffered a season-ending ankle injury last September – perhaps Castro would be the one ticketed for a huge breakout season in 2015.

Maybe we would be looking at what Castro has done in a different light instead of anointing Javier Baez or as the next great Cubs shortstop.

Certainly Castro’s .300 rookie season – and National-League-leading 207 hits in 2011 – look more impressive when you consider how much trouble Baez and Arismendy Alcantara had making contact during their big-league debuts last season (188 strikeouts combined in less than 500 at-bats).

Then factor in the extreme defensive shifts, specialized modern bullpens and sophisticated video analysis. With the game starving for offense, Epstein guessed there are maybe three dozen hitters on the planet with the ability to consistently handle big-league pitching.

Castro hit .378 with a .918 OPS last August before sliding awkwardly into home plate on Sept. 2 and hobbling off the field. He finished with 14 home runs and 65 RBI – and only 15 errors – in 134 games.

“He’s really, really talented with the bat,” Hoyer said. “There’s no question that he’s always going to be a guy that puts the ball in play and looks to (get) hits. But I really believe that there’s a lot of power in there – and I think that’s going to start showing up.

“It was really too bad he got hurt in September, (because) three or four of the best balls he hit all year were the last like week to 10 days before he did get hurt.

“Length of home runs is, in some ways: So what? It’s kind of like dunks – two points is two points or a home run’s a homer. But I do feel like he was hitting balls different. They weren’t sort of the Wrigley left-center field line-drive homer in the summer. It was no-doubt home runs.”

Castro hit cleanup (10 homers). He hit with runners in scoring position (.286 average). He hit right-handers (.773 OPS) and left-handers (.788 OPS).

“He’s going to grow into some ‘man strength’ and learn how to look for pitches in the right counts,” Hoyer said. “I really think there’s a lot of power in there. There’s a really good chance in his career he goes from a batting- average-first type of hitter to a guy that, hopefully, the batting average stays the same, but the home-run totals creep up.

“The biggest disappointment in him getting hurt is it felt like that was about to happen, because of the authority with which he was swinging.”

Castro had been an ironman, but nagging hamstring problems limited him to only 18 Cactus League games across the last two years. There are bigger names in Mesa now, but a happy, healthy Starlin will mean so much to your 2015 Cubs.

There have been enough challenger-to-the-throne storylines and connect-the-dots rumors through all the ups and downs. If Castro wants to win big in Chicago – and he’s always talking about team and making the playoffs and going to the – he should remember ’s famous last words: Come and get it.

--

Chicago Tribune Dispute deepens over Ernie Banks' posthumous wishes By Jason Meisner and

Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks told a Tribune reporter on the eve of his 65th birthday that when he died he wanted his body cremated and his ashes scattered over Wrigley Field “with the wind blowing out.”

Now, three weeks after Banks suffered a fatal heart attack at 83, a dispute involving his posthumous wishes deepened Monday as the slugger’s adult sons accused Banks’ longtime caregiver, Regina Rice, of coercing him into signing a will that gave her control of his estate.

In a written statement issued Monday evening, Rice said that Banks had entrusted her to carry out his wishes after his death and that “I am determined to do just that.”

Meanwhile, Banks' fourth wife, Elizabeth Banks, who was estranged from the former Cubs star at the time of his death and living apart in their home in Marina del Rey, Calif., has filed a petition in Cook County Probate Court to prevent Rice from having his body cremated.

Additional court records show that Banks had filed for divorce from his wife in June 2012, citing mental cruelty, and that the court fight remained ongoing at the time of his death.

The developments set up what could be an ugly, three-way fight in probate court over Banks’ estate, including rights to his memorabilia, business and charity entities, and other personal assets.

Banks’ sons, Joey and Jerry, alleged that three months before their father died, Rice took advantage of his weakened physical state and got him to sign all of his assets over to her.

“My father was ill at the time she had him sign a will and I believe coerced him to give all of his assets to her,” Joey Banks said in a statement. “I find it quite interesting that she did not tell anyone that she had an attorney write up a new will.”

The sons said Rice made it difficult for them to speak to their father in the months before his death.

“At the funeral of my father, I went out of my way to praise Ms. Rice and her son for helping my father,” Joey Banks said in the statement. “What I did not know at the time is that for at least six months prior to my father’s death, in my opinion, she was using him, manipulating him and controlled him.”

Mark Bogen, a Banks family attorney, said his sons “will vigorously fight and contest this will.”

Court records show Rice filed the will in probate court Jan. 29, six days after Banks died.

In a statement emailed by her lawyer Monday evening, Rice said Banks had been an “intricate” part of her life for 12 years and that while she understood his family’s concern, the record will “dispel any iota of concern regarding my relationship with Ernie and his trust in me to carry out his wishes,” both in his lifetime and after his death.

“He made me promise to adhere to his wishes and I am determined to do just that,” Rice said in the statement. “I will not participate in any verbal jousting with Ernie’s family or do anything to bring negativity to the legacy of such a dear and honorable and extremely positive man. Ernie would have hated that.”

Rice didn’t respond to calls seeking additional comment.

Records show Rice, 56, owns a talent management company called Ricer Enterprises LLC, which lists as its address her home in southwest suburban Plainfield.

According to the company’s website, services provided by Ricer Enterprises included maintaining a client’s business calendar, making travel arrangements, typing and formatting documents. and preparing expense reports.

The company also offers a list of “personal services,” including shopping for birthday, anniversary and holiday gifts, planning vacations and shopping “for wardrobe and other personal necessities,” according to the website.

In her petition in probate court, Elizabeth Banks said she would “suffer irreparable damage” if Rice succeeds in having the remains cremated, according to the Associated Press.

A document titled “Last Will and Testament” that was signed by Banks Oct. 7 said he was “in the process of finalizing divorce” from his wife and that he had appointed Rice as the executor of his will, according to the AP.

There was no mention in court documents reviewed by the AP that Banks ever officially expressed a desire to have his ashes scattered at Wrigley, where he played his entire 19-year career.

According to Banks’ petition for divorce, he married Elizabeth Banks in Barbados in 1997 and had been separated from her since 2007. They had no children together.

The petition by Banks accused his wife of “extreme and repeated acts of mental cruelty” and that “irreconcilable differences” had caused the “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.”

Banks’ onetime divorce attorney, Jeffery Leving, said in a telephone interview Monday that regardless of how the case is ultimately sorted out, Banks would have disliked the controversy.

“It’s really unfortunate because Ernie was just a really nice guy,” Leving said. “I’m sure he would be very upset about all this.”

--

Chicago Tribune Former Cubs coach Wendell Kim dies at 64 By Mark Gonzales

Former Cubs coach Wendell Kim died Sunday near his home in suburban Phoenix after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 64.

Kim's widow, Natasha, confirmed her husband's death on Monday.

Kim was a major league coach for 15 seasons with four teams — the Giants (1989-1996), the Red Sox (1997-2000), the Expos (2002) and the Cubs (2003-04). Kim was known for his aggressive style as the Cubs' third-base coach and was dubbed 'Wavin' Wendell."

Although Kim's tactics weren't always successful or popular, he never skirted responsibility with the media. He also was popular among players he coached and managed in the minors.

"He let me be me," said Padres announcer and former major league Mark Grant, who won 16 games for Kim at Class A Clinton in 1982 and went on to parts of eight major league seasons. "He was not a manager who put his fist down. He knew who I was. I loved the man.''

Kim, a native of Hawaii, signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent out of Cal Poly Pomona. Kim was an for parts of eight minor league seasons (1973-80) and compiled a .285 batting average.

Kim managed in the Giants minor league system from 1981-88 before joining manager 's staff in 1989.

Kim's last season of organized baseball was in 2005 with the Nationals' Florida Gulf Coast League team.

Services will be held March 1 at a site and time to be determined.

--

Chicago Sun-Times Ernie Banks' family surprised by new will, plans to contest it By Art Golab

Three months before he died, an ill and infirm Ernie Banks signed a new will, giving all his assets to a his live-in caretaker and agent, Regina Rice.

At the same time, according to Banks’ two sons and a family attorney, the late baseball great also signed a power of attorney and a health care directive, giving Rice immediate control of his finances and his health care.

It was only after Banks’ funeral that his family found out about the new will.

“My father was ill at the time she had him sign a will and I believe coerced him to give all of his assets to her,” said Jerry Banks, the 55-year-old son of Ernie Banks.

“I find it quite interesting that she did not tell anyone that she had an attorney write up a new will,” he said. Jerry Banks, along with his twin brother, Joey, spoke out Monday for the first time about the dispute that has erupted in Cook County Probate Court, not only over Banks’ money, but the disposal of his body.

Banks’ estranged wife, Elizabeth, has gone to court to prevent Rice from cremating Banks’ body.

“Our father never told us he wanted to be cremated and we find it very suspicious that Ms. Rice, who claimed that she was taking excellent care of our father, now wants to have him cremated,” Jerry Banks said.

The brothers also were upset to see a video of Rice on her Facebook page taken at a spa eight days after Banks was buried. Rice talked about sipping Champagne and took a separate picture of a Champagne bottle proffered by a waiter.

“Everybody’s in mourning. If your supposed to be the caregiver, long-time associate . . . why are you up in the spa?” Jerry Banks said.

The brothers live in Los Angeles, where Joey works as a teamster in the film industry and Jerry is a real estate agent.

They said that toward the end, it was difficult to talk with their father.

“The phone numbers changed constantly and it was difficult to keep up with what number he was being contacted,” Joey Banks said.

Meanwhile, Rice deflected the brothers’ questions. “She’d get angry and say — I’ve had a long day dealing with your dad, I don’t want to talk about it any more,” Joey Banks said, completing a sentence his brother started.

Rice issued a statement saying Banks was an “intricate part of my life,” for 12 years.

Rice did not address any specific allegations, but said, “It is understandable that Ernie’s family is concerned at this very sad time. However, the record and those closest to Ernie will dispel any iota of concern regarding my relationship with Ernie and his trust in me to carrying out his wishes.”

The Banks’ family attorney, Mark Bogen, said: “We will vigorously fight and contest this will.”