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March 17, 2016

 Chicago Tribune, Cubs lineup features opening night possibilities http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-prepare-for-opening-night-20160317- story.html

 Chicago Tribune, could move up in order after improvement at plate http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-addison-russell--eighth-cubs-spt-0317- 20160316-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Dexter Fowler believes playing shallow actually prevents runs http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-dexter-fowler-defends-defense-cubs-spt-0317- 20160316-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Wednesday's recap: Royals 10, Cubs 0 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-gameday-cubs-spring-training-spt-0317-20160316- story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon down on Chicago's tobacco ban for diminishing personal freedom http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-joe-maddon-dislikes-tobacco-ban-20160316- story.html

 Chicago Tribune, New normal good preparation for media-ready Cubs players http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-spring-observations-sullivan-spt-0317- 20160316-story.html

 Chicago Sun-Times, Contreras has look of Cubs’ of the future http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/contreras-has-look-of-cubs-long-term-catcher-of-the-future/

 Chicago Sun-Times, Real Deal Neil: Ramirez could create tough roster call for Cubs http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/real-deal-neil-ramirez-could-create-tough-roster-call-for-cubs/

 Chicago Sun-Times, Royals 10, Cubs 0: Lackey good, Rondon not, champs roll http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/royals-10-cubs-0-lackey-good-rondon-not-champs-roll/

 Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs and White Sox players react to Chicago’s ban on chaw http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-and-white-sox-players-react-to-chicagos-ban-on-chaw/

 Cubs.com, Lackey locates, takes step forward vs. KC http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/167738686/john-lackey-takes-step-forward-against-royals

 Cubs.com, Cubs get kick out of Davis' bid to make bigs http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/167731834/taylor-davis-having-fun-in-bid-to-make-cubs

 Cubs.com, Lackey performs extra work against Royals http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/167726078/reymond-fuentes-leads-royals-past-cubs

 Cubs.com, Montero is OK with smokeless tobacco ban http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/167780340/jesus-montero-looks-to-quit-smokeless-tobacco

 Cubs.com, Arrieta, Bryant enjoy 'snow day' in New York http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/167731668/jake-arrieta-kris-bryant-see-snow-in-new-york

 Cubs.com, Maddon shifting to spring lineup of regulars http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/167742732/joe-maddon-likes-spring-lineup-with-regulars

 ESPNChicago.com, Cubs lose to Royals as Hector Rondon continues disturbing spring trend http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/36868/cubs-lose-to-royals-as-hector-rondon-continues- disturbing-spring-trend

 ESPNChicago.com, Cubs not happy with Chicago's smokeless tobacco ban http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14990087/chicago-cubs-bristle-city-smokeless-tobacco-ban

 CSNChicago.com, Dale Sveum's takeaways after Royals beat Mets team that shut down Cubs http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/dale-sveums-takeaways-after-royals-beat-mets-team-shut-down-cubs

 CSNChicago.com, Cubs might be giving sneak preview of lineup http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-might-be-giving-sneak-preview-opening-day-lineup

 CSNChicago.com, Joe Maddon on Chicago tobacco ban: 'I'm not into over-legislating the human race' http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/joe-maddon-chicago-tobacco-ban-im-not-over-legislating-human-race

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Chicago Tribune Cubs lineup features opening night possibilities By Mark Gonzales

With the leaving Arizona in less than two weeks, Joe Maddon is examining various lineup combinations with more scrutiny.

That appears to be the case with Thursday's lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks at before an expected sellout crowd at Sloan Park and a national television audience.

Maddon loves mixing his lineup with right-handed and left-handed hitters, and he has the resources to accomplish that. Switch-hitters Dexter Fowler and Ben Zobrist will bat first and third respectively. Left-handed hitters and Anthony Rizzo will bat second and fourth.

Any speculation over whether this is virtually identical to the Cubs' opening night lineup on April 4 should be defused by the fact that Jason Hammel will start on the mound with Kyle Schwarber behind the plate.

Schwarber might not make his first regular season start at catcher until the fourth game on April 8 against the Diamondbacks. Miguel Montero, who is not in the starting lineup, is expected to start opening night with on the mound.

The Cubs will play Colorado in a "B" game Thursday at noon (CT) at Salt River Fields, with Adam Warren and Trevor Cahill scheduled to .

Here's the Cubs' projected starting lineup against the Diamondbacks:

Fowler cf Heyward rf Zobrist 2b Rizzo 1b Bryant 3b Schwarber c Soler lf Russell ss Hammel p

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Chicago Tribune Addison Russell could move up in order after improvement at plate By Mark Gonzales

The speculation the Cubs lineup Thursday would mirror opening day amused manager Joe Maddon.

"It's March 17, and everyone is still getting ready," Maddon smirked after learning of a tweet from guest instructor/ESPN analyst , who suggested the Cubs' lineup against the Diamondbacks that could be their opening night lineup against the Angels in Anaheim.

Maddon and his staff have more than two weeks to finalize the makeup of their 25-man roster and examine various lineup and combinations.

And Maddon is considering reverting to a traditional lineup with the starting batting ninth rather than eighth this season.

He's thinking seriously about it because of the development of Addison Russell. The batted .242 in his rookie seasonwith 54 RBIs from the ninth spot last season but showed a 33-point improvement with some power in the second half.

"(Russell) is a different animal this year," Maddon said.

Russell could move up to seventh or eighth as Maddon ponders many scenarios his analytics department has provided for him.

Last season, the Cubs' starting batted eighth in 133 games. That decision was due largely to giving Russell some protection with the top of the following him and because Maddon often would call upon a pinch-hitter for the pitcher early in games neither Jon Lester nor Jake Arrieta started.

Maddon said there were six times that the pitcher came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs, less than one at-bat above the league average.

"It's a roll of the dice some times," Maddon said.

Also, Cubs' pitchers batted .114 — the second lowest average in the National League.

"That sounds like a great idea," John Lackey said of the probability of the starting pitchers batting ninth. "I have enough on my hands trying to pitch. If I happen to help with the bat, that would be icing on the cake."

In a 10-0 loss to the Royals on Thursday, Maddon opted not to use a . Lackey grounded to second and fouled off a bunt attempt with two strikes in his two plate appearances.

"The pitchers have to start getting used to this, and we have to start getting used to this group," Maddon said of allowing pitchers to hit in spring games.

Russell likely would bat seventh or eighth, depending on whether a right- or left-hander is starting, Maddon said. Russell is scheduled to bat eighth Thursday.

In another development, Maddon said Kyle Schwarber is more likely to start at catcher in games Jason Hammel starts rather than those featuring . Schwarber will catch Hammel on Thursday.

"They seem to work well together," Maddon said.

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Chicago Tribune Dexter Fowler believes playing shallow actually prevents runs By Mark Gonzales

Dexter Fowler took great pride in taking away bloop hits that eventually prevented three-run homers during his younger days at Coors Field.

So Fowler was amused over the criticism he has received from sabermetricians regarding his defense.

"From the start of my career (with the Rockies), they wanted us to play shallow," Fowler said. "You get two bloop hits and a homer, and that's three runs. So I guess the whole premise about it is how it starts the rally. You would rather want more solo homers than two or three-run home runs. I played five years there, and I always learned to play shallow.

"The (sabermetricians) crush me all the time because I play shallow, but the pitchers appreciate it because if they make a good pitch, the batter gets jammed and hits it off the end of the bat and you catch it and it keeps (runners) off base. And the balls that are hit in the gap, off the way, those are hits anyway."

Fowler received a minus-12 in defensive runs saved last season with the Cubs while playing half his games at Wrigley Field, and manager Joe Maddon said he wants all his — including Fowler — to play deeper this season.

Extra innings: Maddon acknowledged reliever Neil Ramirez, who is out of options, looked sharp Tuesday but is only a part of the roster conversation. … Shane Victorino (sore calf) is expected to return by this weekend, Maddon said. … Tommy La Stella (sore calf) resumed fielding grounders, but there is no timetable on his return. "We're just being cautious," Maddon said.

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Chicago Tribune Wednesday's recap: Royals 10, Cubs 0 By Mark Gonzales

Closer Hector Rondon was tagged for five runs on seven hits in the eighth inning as the Royals humbled the visiting Cubs 10-0 Thursday. Rondon has been tagged for nine runs on 13 hits in four appearances this spring.

At the plate

Hitting in the clutch will remain a point of emphasis for the Cubs, especially after Jorge Soler took a called third strike and Javier Baez struck out back-to-back with the bases loaded to end the fourth.

On the mound

John Lackey felt strong enough to throw five innings in a 66-pitch effort. Lackey froze Lorenzo Cain on an inside for a called third strike in .

In the field

Soler looked more comfortable in left field, but he and Baez converged too close to the wall in left-center on a drive past Alcides Escobar that caromed for a triple with two out in the third.

Key number

11: Spring games in which the Cubs have scored three runs or fewer.

The quote

"Joe (Maddon) runs a laid-back clubhouse but is business like on the field. It's a great mix. If you can't play for him, you can't play for anybody." — Lackey

Up next

Vs. Diamondbacks, 6:05 p.m. Thursday at Sloan Park. RH Jason Hammel vs. RH Archie Bradley

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Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon down on Chicago's tobacco ban for diminishing personal freedom By Mark Gonzales

Miguel Montero joked he might be "a little moody" and that the Cubs might have to carry more nicotine gum as the result of the city of Chicago's recent ban on chewing tobacco at professional and amateur events.

But manager Joe Maddon and pitcher John Lackey, both of whom say they don't use tobacco, were miffed over government legislation that takes away the freedom to choose.

"We're grown men," Lackey responded. "I don't know about all that. People in the stands can have a beer, but we can't do what we want? It's a little messed up.

"You don't want Little League kids to do that. I don't do it. But grown men should have their own choice."

The local government's intervention flusters Maddon, who said he gave up chewing tobacco 15 years ago.

"Just eradicate tobacco, period, if you're going to go that route," Maddon said. "I'm not into over-legislating the human race. I'll just have to listen and learn."

Maddon compared the new law to New York City's failed attempt two years ago to limit the size of cups for soft drinks.

"If somebody else is going to make up his mind for me, I'm going to have a hard time with that," Maddon said. "So that's where I draw the line, but I always will defend the rule in a group setting and I'll attempt to do the right thing, which I don't really know what that is."

Montero, 32, said he started dipping in the minors 15 years ago but failed in an attempt to quit.

"It's going to be tough to quit cold turkey," Montero said. "Hopefully I can quit and that (law) will help me to quit."

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Chicago Tribune New normal good preparation for media-ready Cubs players By Paul Sullivan

The caravan of national writers convening on Cubs' camp continues, with Sports Illustrated, The New York Times, The Washington Post, MLB Network and The New Yorker all making trips to Sloan Park over the last couple of weeks.

The Cubs have been the hottest story of , and between interview requests and team and MLB promotions, the key players and manager Joe Maddon have been stretched in many directions as they prepare for the season.

After experiencing the other side of the coin from 2012-14, Anthony Rizzo said the players welcome the media circus this spring.

"It comes with the territory, and having all this media will be better for us in the long run," Rizzo said. "The more the spotlight is on us now, the more we'll be used to it when the real spotlight is on us in the playoffs. Then it's just going to be normal."

While we get used to the new normal, here are a few observations on the first month of Cubs camp:

Jon Lester's throwing to bases issue is a story that won't go away until he shows he can make strong throws on a semiregular basis. It was a wise decision to have Lester work on it on the back fields at Sloan Park on Tuesday, even if the results weren't all that great. Whether or not it's fixable, at least Lester is working on it and admits he needs to improve that part of his game.

"I'm prepared for the moment," Lester said after short-arming a throw after his first start. "It's just a matter of executing the play."

Sloan Park doesn't have a nickname, but one I would recommend is "the Goldmine." Though attendance in the Cactus League is down 7 percent from last year, according to The Arizona Republic, the Cubs' home attendance was up 4 percent through Monday. They are far and away the spring attendance leaders, drawing a major-league leading 102,967 to Sloan Park in their first eight games. Would the Cubs have done this well if they had fled to Naples, Fla., as they threatened to do before Mesa anted up for the new park?

Japanese infielder Munenori Kawasaki, who starred on You Tube in a "Kawasaki karaoke" skit a couple of weeks ago, has played so well at short and shown such great plate discipline you have to wonder if he might have a slight edge over the injured Tommy La Stella for a backup infield spot. Kawasaki is not on the 40-man roster, so he's considered a long shot. But he has impressed manager Joe Maddon.

"He's a guy who likes to have fun, but also knows it's time to get down to business," Maddon said. "Because he can be humorous, I think people don't give him as much credit for being a good technical baseball player."

It was surprising to hear Javier Baez say he would wait until later this spring to talk to Ben Zobrist about how to handle a utility role. Baez has been fine so far, but with an expert only a few lockers away in the Cubs' clubhouse, it would seem like a good idea to pick Zobrist's brain early and often. Then again, Maddon said they're "two different players," pointing to Zobrist being a switch-hitter and Baez having more raw power.

"I think Javy is going to settle into one position sooner than Zobrist did as a major-league player," he said.

Spring training performances don't matter for those who don't have to win roles, so Hector Rondon's blown save Sunday was basically irrelevant.

But Jorge Soler's two errors in left field Monday were a different story. He's playing a new position in left and trying to earn playing time. He wasn't all that sharp in right last year, including the NLCS. Arizona isn't the easiest place to play in day games because of the cloudless sky, but if Soler can't figure it out now how will he be able to handle it at chilly Wrigley Field come April?

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Chicago Sun-Times Contreras has look of Cubs’ catcher of the future By Gordon Wittenmyer

MESA, Ariz. – Micah Johnson once stole 84 bases in a minor league season, and that kind of speed is still his biggest calling card as a major league infielder with the Dodgers.

So nobody was more shocked than Johnson when he slid into second base against the Cubs the other night only to discover that the ball was already there, in shortstop Addison Russell’s glove, a few inches from the ground, right where catcher Willson Contreras had delivered it.

“The shortstop didn’t have to even make a tag, because it was right there,” said shortstop-by-trade Javy Baez, who watched in awe from his first base position that night.

One inning later, Contreras fired to Baez at first to pick off veteran Chase Utley.

“I think he’s got as much ability as anybody at that position,” said the Cubs’ catching . “He’s the kind of athletic, strong, strong-armed, powerful-legged, young catcher that you don’t come across very often.”

Last year’s Southern League batting champion also doubled twice and singled in that game. Then he doubled and singled the next day.

“We’re all searching for the perfect catcher who can do all the things we want behind the plate and also hit,” Borzello said. “Those guys are few and far between.”

If the last 12 months are any indication, one of those guys is a 23-year-old former with a vise grip of a handshake and, maybe, an even stronger grip on his place in the Cubs’ long-term catching plans.

“They make the decisions. That’s one thing I can’t control,” said Contreras, who should open the season as the starting catcher for Class AAA Iowa, potentially a heartbeat away from becoming the next homegrown core player for the burgeoning Cubs.

“So I’m just going to keep working hard and playing hard,” he said.

Contreras rose quickly in prospect rankings with his breakout 2015 season at AA Tennessee, baseball’s No. 67 overall prospect, according to Baseball America, and the top-ranked catching prospect in baseball, according to MLBPipeline.com.

“The talent is there,” Borzello said. “I mean, he’s capable of doing anything that you need done back there.”

The Cubs have stressed communication with pitchers, working with scouting reports and calling games during Contreras’ first big-league spring training – the last components of the job he needs to master.

And when it comes that, Borzello said he’s been impressed with Contreras’ ability to learn quickly.

“When he handles the pitchers, he’s thoughtful; he knows what’s going on out there,” said manager Joe Maddon, a former minor-league catcher. “This kid’s in on every pitch. Every pitch.”

Maddon said Contreras called a pitch in a recent game that the staff didn’t think was the right one for the situation. “But we didn’t care about that because the decision he made was based on the fact that he was thinking,” Maddon said. “I liked the idea that he was aware of what was going on. He chose that route. He wasn’t just putting down a finger, and I think that’s a good sign.”

Where does he fit if he’s as good as everybody thinks.

Borzello said he’d likely be on a big-league roster this year for a team in a rebuilding mode or with less catching at the majors than the Cubs have in Miguel Montero and David Ross (and Kyle Schwarber).

“We’re a team right now that you have to be 100 percent ready to go,” he said. “We want to make sure he’s polished in all areas.”

Ross said he’s retiring after this season. Montero is signed through 2017.

“When they give me an opportunity, I’ll try to take advantage,” said Contreras, who has seems at home in the big- league clubhouse. “I feel like I’m one step to Wrigley Field, to the big leagues. I feel like part of the team right now. My teammates are treating me like a brother. We’re like a family.”

Said Borzello: “He works as hard as anyone I’ve ever had. And when you have that kid of ability and that work ethic on top of it, there’s no stopping you.

“He has a look in his eye like he’s coming. He’s not going to let anybody stand in his way.”

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Chicago Sun-Times Real Deal Neil: Ramirez could create tough roster call for Cubs By Gordon Wittenmyer

MESA, Ariz. – Right-hander Neil Ramirez is quickly becoming one of the most interesting roster decisions the Cubs might have to face in the next two weeks.

Barring injury to one of the seven pitchers who appear set in the Cubs’ opening-roster plans, Ramirez is vying this spring for what would be an eighth bullpen job that manager Joe Maddon said he’s not even sure the team will have.

The 25th roster spot looks like a decision between that eighth reliever and a fifth bench player.

Adding intrigue to the process is the fact that Ramirez – who posted a 1.44 ERA as a rookie in 2014 before shoulder troubles waylaid his 2015 season – is out of options.

And the way he looks right now, he won’t clear waivers if the Cubs can’t find a spot on their Opening Day roster for him.

“I don’t think about that kind of stuff,” said Ramirez, who struck out all three batters he faced in his most recent outing, Tuesday. “Those things are just: `Why?’ You can’t control them. You can’t do anything about it, so why put that in your head?”

He did enough of that last year, he said, getting caught up in the talk of his rookie year and his ceiling as he came to camp.

“I know everybody talks about the velocity and stuff like that,” said the power pitcher. “It kind of got in my head last year, and I started worrying about it, and tried to focus too much on that and not just going out there and competing.”

It might have been especially damaging for a guy who already had a history of shoulder stability issues he spent much of last year on and continues manage with a personal routine.

“He’s doing really well right now,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s pitching right now. I’ve always told guys, `You’re already signed; don’t worry about the [radar] gun anymore. Just get guys out. If you get guys out, nobody’s going to care.’

“I think he’s starting to figure it out.”

Which can only make the decision in two weeks tougher if the seven already in the pen are healthy and pitching well and if, say, outfielder Shane Victorino is back strong and performing well after the calf soreness that has sidelined him for the past week.

“When you get a guy that’s as good as he is and he’s out of options, it’s always tough,” Maddon said.

Ramirez, 26, seems at peace with the process: “I feel that kind of stuff just works itself out.”

He’s also moved past that sense of trying to prove – or reprove — something.

As long as he’s healthy, he said, “I know what I can do.”

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Chicago Sun-Times Royals 10, Cubs 0: Lackey good, Rondon not, champs roll By Gordon Wittenmyer

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Veteran John Lackey felt strong enough and was efficient enough in his scheduled four innings that he pitched a fifth, giving up a two-out run in the third and another run in the fifth after a leadoff double.

He struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.

“It was a good test because I’m still early in spring, still trying to establish a fastball,” said Lackey, who said he liked the progress of his command. “They’re obviously a really good fastball-hitting team, so it was a nice test for sure.”

From worst to worser

Three days after an ugly inning against the Athletics, closer Hector Rondon was crushed by the Royals in the eighth.

He gave up five hard hits in his first 11 pitches, including a two-run homer.

Then after a visit to the mound by the pitching coach and back-to-back with the bases loaded, he gave up two more hits for three more runs and was lifted.

His last 1 2/3 innings: 10 hits, 8 earned runs (5 Ks, 1 BB).

Pitchers and foreign objects

Halfway through the exhibition schedule Wednesday, Cubs pitchers began to appear in the batting order, with Lackey getting first hacks (0-for-2 with a after trying to bunt), and Jason Hammel due up Thursday.

“The pitchers have to start to get used to this, and we have to start getting used to it as a group, also,” manager Joe Maddon said.

Back to 9th for Cubs pitchers

Maddon said he likely will bat the pitcher in the No. 9 spot this year instead of the No. 8 spot he used for the pitcher most of last year.

A big part of the decision, he said, is that he no longer feels the need to protect Addison Russell (who batted ninth as a rookie).

“He’s a different animal this year,” said Maddon, who’s still mulling where Russell will hit (probably seventh or eighth).

Russell batted second Wednesday and was 1-for-2 with a walk.

On deck

Diamondbacks at Cubs, Mesa, Ariz., 6:05 p.m., ESPN, mlb.com audio, Archie Bradley vs. Hammel. Also: Adam Warren and Trevor Cahill pitch for the Cubs in a “B” game vs. Diamondbacks, Scottsdale, Ariz., 10 a.m.

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Chicago Sun-Times Cubs and White Sox players react to Chicago’s ban on chaw By Chris De Luca

Cubs and White Sox players — plus their opponents — must now kick the habit when it comes to chewing tobacco at Chicago’s sports stadiums, thanks to a new city ordinance.

Among a string of anti-tobacco ordinances that passed Wednesday, the City Council banned chaw altogether at sports stadiums.

“We’re grown men,” Cubs pitcher John Lackey said. “People in the stands can have a beer, but we can’t do what we want? That’s a little messed up.

“I get it, you don’t your Little League kid to do that. I don’t want him [gestures to his nearby son] to do it. I don’t do it personally, honestly. But grown men should have their own choice.”

The issue is certain to be a hot topic in clubhouses on both sides of town.

“I was raised to be a law-abiding citizen and if that’s the way it is, that’s the way it is,” White Sox pitcher John Danks said. “Some guys will look at it and say, ‘I’m a grown man, I can do what I want within the limits of the law.’ Now you have to be selective where to do it.”

Still, chewing tobacco has long been a part of the baseball culture.

“It’s going to be hard because you’re an addict, pretty much,” Cubs catcher Miguel Montero said. “It’s going to be tough to quit cold turkey. Hopefully, I can quit that, and hopefully that helps me to quit.

“Obviously, if they’re forcing me, I’ll have to force myself even harder to quick. Now if I know I can’t do it, maybe it’ll help me out.”

San Francisco, Boston and Los Angeles have passed similar bans that take effect this season while New York and Toronto have legislation pending.

“I’m not into over-legislating the human race,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “So for me, I’ll just have to listen and learn.

“I stopped chewing tobacco about 15 years ago, and I’m glad that I did because I think I feel better because of it. I know the pitfalls. But I’m into education; education the masses and let everybody make their own decisions. That’s what I’m about. So to tell me what I can and cannot do as an adult –unless it’s illegal; that’s something different.

“When everybody else thinks they know what’s good for me, I don’t appreciate that.”

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Cubs.com Lackey locates, takes step forward vs. KC By Jesse Sanchez

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Cubs right-hander John Lackey took the mound Wednesday on track to pitch only four innings, but things went so well that he stayed out there for another frame.

"I felt really good about it," Lackey said after a 10-0 loss to the Royals at . "It was a good test because it's still early in spring and I'm still trying to establish the fastball and work on that. They are obviously a good fastball hitting team so it was a nice test for sure."

Lackey gave up a one-out single to Mike Moustakas in the second inning and then retired the next seven batters in order, four via strikeout.

Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar hit a two-out triple in the third and scored the first run when Moustakas followed with a single up the middle. Kendrys Morales hit a one-out single off Lackey in the fourth, but Morales was wiped off the basepaths when catcher Salvador Perez grounded into an inning-ending double play.

Royals Christian Colon led off the fifth with a double and advanced to third base on a passed ball. He scored on a single by Reymond Fuentes to extend Kansas City's lead to 2-0.

In the end, Lackey was charged with two runs on six hits in five innings with four strikeouts in the 66-pitch outing. He threw 49 strikes.

"I felt like I located the ball pretty good today," Lackey said. "It was a nice step forward."

Lackey, who signed a two-year contract this offseason, gave up three runs on five hits and walked one in three innings against the Reds in his Cactus League debut. He struck out four.

Lackey went 0-for-2 at the plate on Wednesday.

"I used to be a lot better at [hitting] a long time ago," Lackey said. "That's what happens when you've been in one league for 15 years, I guess. I have enough on my hands trying to pitch, if I happen to help with the bat that would be icing on the cake."

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Cubs.com Cubs get kick out of Davis' bid to make bigs By Carrie Muskat

MESA, Ariz. -- Someone needs to make a movie of Taylor Davis' life.

It no doubt will include the time the Cubs catcher came off the bench for Class A Daytona after three weeks on the disabled list and crushed the second pitch he saw off the scoreboard for a pinch-hit home run.

There has to be a scene from Davis' days playing in the Cape Cod League when Tim Wilken, then the Cubs scouting director, first saw the right-handed hitter with the high leg kick. Wilken invited Davis and his dad to breakfast.

After an hour of sharing old baseball stories, Wilken finally asked how important school was to Davis, then offered a professional contract.

Davis' first hitting coach, Brack Hardee, has to be included. Since he was 12, Davis hit with Hardee at least five days a week while growing up in Jupiter, Fla. It was Hardee who encouraged the current batting stance in which Davis lifts his left leg, pauses, and then steps and swings, most often with positive results.

When he was playing, Davis would copy every big league player's stance he could think of.

"[Hardee] said, 'I want you to act like you're going to hit the ball as hard as you possibly can right now,'" Davis said of his former coach, who died in 2013. "He said, 'I don't want you to think mechanics, just do what you would do if I told you I'd pay you $100 if you hit this ball father than you ever hit a ball.' I kind of did a little bit of the [leg kick]."

The coach was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer that also claimed the life of Hall of Famer Gary Carter. Carter knew Hardee and helped him get treatment, but it couldn't save him. Hardee died at the age of 43.

"He got to watch me play in pro ball one time," Davis said. "But he couldn't get out of the car."

For a couple of Minor League seasons, Davis spent more time on the DL than he did in actual games. And yet, Davis was given serious consideration by some teams last December when he was eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. When you hit .361 at Double-A and Triple-A, which Davis did last season, and folks are calling you "Crush Davis," scouts notice.

"He's trying to become a viable Major League player, which is one of the hardest things to do, without having played much," said Minor League field coordinator Tim Cossins, who noted the reports on Davis highlighted stuff that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. He was considered a sleeper.

"When I first got here [in 2012], I initially kind of whiffed on what those [intangibles] were and learned a valuable lesson," Cossins said.

He's not the only one. Desi Wilson was the Double-A hitting coach, saw Davis in one at-bat, and told him to stop the leg kick. A lot of people tell Davis he looks like the Dodgers' Justin Turner because both have long hair and similiar stances.

"I didn't get it from him," Davis said. "I've done it on my own. I didn't have a coach talk to me about it. I kind of made it up. It started small and I'd have a good series, and it got a little bigger and it kept going like that." Davis did what Wilson said, abandoned the kick, and looked terrible.

"I felt bad," Wilson said. "I said, 'Taylor, go back to what you were doing.' He went back, and boom, hit a home run. After that experience, it made me realize that's his natural move."

Other Minor League coaches also tried to talk Davis out of it.

"I took it away for a couple years, and then I struggled and I decided if I was going to get released, it was going to be on my own terms," Davis said. "I was going to get released having fun. That was a big thing for me. I don't want to look back on this game and have regrets. I didn't want to look back and think, I was ticked off about that 1-for-4. I want to be, 'Hey, I'm having fun with my teammates in the dugout.'

"Everybody gets a laugh. I struck out the other day [in a Cactus League game], and the whole dugout is laughing. That's fun. Baseball's got to be fun. When it loses that, you lose everything."

Davis now finds himself at Spring Training camp as a non-roster invitee.

"He's got a chance to be a backup or platoon guy for a number of years," said Wilken, now in the D-backs organization. "He gets it."

What has impressed anyone who comes in contact with Davis is his attitude. When he was on the DL, he never complained. Davis played in 34 games in the Minors in 2013 and 53 in '14. A lot of players might have gotten frustrated and quit.

"He's almost too good to be true," Wilken said. "Everything about him is genuine, as a human being, as a ballplayer."

Cossins works with the , and said Davis, 26, doesn't always look great in drills, but when it's game time, he's on. Of course, the question now is, can Davis get to the big leagues? Will the movie have a happy ending?

"It's an amazing feat, and one people hope he accomplishes, including myself," Cossins said. "He's a grinder. He's equal parts really talented player, equal parts talented clubbie, psychologist. He's one of those guys who gets along well with everybody at every level. It's really fascinating."

When Davis was promoted to Tennessee, the Daytona pitchers chipped in to get him a $500 gift card to a hunting and fishing store because they appreciated everything he did for them.

"To see him in the big league camp, it gives me goosebumps," Wilson said.

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Cubs.com Lackey performs extra work against Royals By Jeffrey Flanagan

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Right-hander breezed through four shutout innings and Reymond Fuentes logged four RBIs in the Royals' 10-0 win over the Cubs on Wednesday afternoon in Cactus League action at Surprise Stadium.

Young, the likely No. 4 starter, allowed two hits, walked two and struck out five. He threw 47 pitches, 31 for strikes, and he had sharp command of his slider.

"Real sharp. He was really good," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Had everything working. He had his disappearing slider, had life on his fastball.

"Really kept his down really well."

Young worked out of a bases-loaded jam with one out in the fourth by striking out Jorge Soler and Javier Baez. Right-hander John Lackey started for the Cubs and gave up six hits and two runs over five innings.

The Royals got on the board in the third when Alcides Escobar drilled a two-out triple to left-center field. Mike Moustakas drove him in with a sharp single to left.

Royals infielder Christian Colon got his first hit of the spring, a ground-rule double to left-center in the fifth. He scored on a single by Fuentes, who is trying to make the club as a backup outfielder. Fuentes also belted a three- run homer in the seventh, while Dusty Coleman added a two-run shot in the eighth.

"It was just a matter of time," Yost said of Colon. "He'd been hitting the ball hard. Heck, his first at-bat was a lineout."

Ben Zobrist, facing the team he helped to a World Series championship, got a huge ovation in the first inning. He doubled in the third inning for the Cubs.

Royals left-hander Brian Duensing, still in the mix for a bullpen role, left the game in the seventh inning with an apparent foot injury. Duensing gave up two hits, the second of which was a comebacker that struck his foot. He walked the next hitter and left the game without recording an out.

Up next for Cubs: Right-hander Jason Hammel will make the start when the Cubs host the D-backs at 3:05 p.m. CT on Thursday at Sloan Park. In his two previous outings, Hammel has given up three hits, walked one and struck out five over six scoreless innings. Jason Heyward, who drove in three runs on Tuesday, will be in the starting lineup. Fans can listen live to an exclusive free webcast on Cubs.com or watch live on MLB.TV.

Up next for Royals: Right-hander Kris Medlen will start when the Royals travel to Glendale for a 3:05 p.m. CT game against the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch. Medlen will be followed by Kelvin Herrera, Ross Ohlendorf and Peter Moylan. Listen to the action for free with an exclusive webcast.

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Cubs.com Montero is OK with smokeless tobacco ban By Jesse Sanchez

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Cubs catcher Miguel Montero believes Chicago's new ordinance banning chewing tobacco at baseball stadiums could help him quit the habit.

Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston already have bans on chewing tobacco in place. Smokeless-tobacco use has been banned in the Minor Leagues since June 15, 1993.

"It is what it is. You can't really control that," Montero said. "For me, I dip and I do see that it probably would help me to quit. It's a really bad habit to have. Obviously, I really don't know because we are adults and know what is good and what is bad. But a rule is a rule and you have to follow the rules."

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he would advise his players to obey the new rule, although he is not in favor of the ordinance. The manager, who quit chewing tobacco 15 years ago, said he is "into personal freedoms."

"I know the pitfalls," Maddon said. "But I'm into education. Educate the masses and let everybody make their own decisions. That's what I'm about. Inherently, that's what I'm about. To tell me what I can and cannot do as an adult, unless it's illegal, is something different. So that's where I stand."

Cubs starter John Lackey echoed his manager's sentiments.

"I don't dip," Lackey said. "We are grown men. I don't know about all that. People in the stands can have a beer, but we can't do what we want? That's a little messed up."

As for Montero, he said he has been using tobacco since the Minor Leagues and has tried to quit in the past. "It's going to be hard because you are an addict, pretty much. It's going to be tough to quit cold turkey," he said. "Hopefully, I can quit that, too."

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Cubs.com Arrieta, Bryant enjoy 'snow day' in New York By Carrie Muskat

MESA, Ariz. -- Kris Bryant grew up in Las Vegas, which gets an average of four inches of rain per year, and zero inches of snow. Imagine his surprise at being in New York in January when the city was pummeled with two feet of snow.

"To see New York kind of shut down, and nobody on the streets, no cars, we just walked the streets, it was so cool," said Bryant, who was in New York City on Jan. 23 to receive the National League Rookie of the Year Award at the Baseball Writers' Association of America dinner. Teammate Jake Arrieta also was there to be honored as the NL Cy Young Award winner.

"It was like a zombie land almost," Bryant said. "There was nobody there and so much snow -- I've never seen that much snow before. I've seen some, and I've been to Boston before and seen eight inches of snow, but that was 26 inches of snow."

Cubs manager Joe Maddon was scheduled to attend the event as well, but his flight from Tampa Bay to New York that day was canceled because of the blizzard.

"The wind was blowing so hard, it looked like it was snowing up and it was doing that for hours and hours and hours," Arrieta said. "I've never seen that much snow. I've experienced much colder weather. I was in Chicago when it was minus-15 at the Cubs Convention two years ago. That was an eye , something I didn't know was a real thing."

Bryant and Arrieta received messages that the event was canceled, but 10 minutes later, it was back on again. MLB Network broadcast the show. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson put on his snow boots and walked several blocks to the dinner.

"There were still quite a bit of people there who made it," Bryant said. "There were a lot of families there. It was a bummer that Joe didn't make it."

"It was more of an intimate atmosphere," Arrieta said. "It was cool to see everyone get up there and say a few words about their season, their team.

"I had a more personal conversation with Josh Donaldson for the first time, who's an awesome dude. I was really glad to meet him and speak with him for the first time. Seeing Marcus Stroman get up there and speak -- he's a good role model for young kids. He's got a very positive message and you can tell he was raised well and had good parents."

It's very different when players can be themselves.

"It was nice to not have that intense competitive nature in between the lines and get to know these guys more personally and tell stories and listen, and start to develop some new relationships," Arrieta said.

So, with all the white stuff and New York to themselves, did Bryant and Arrieta do snow angels in Central Park? No, but Arrieta, who brought his best friends to the event, did wander out in the snow and saw hundreds of kids skiing and snowboarding. Both he and Bryant agreed it was nice to be in New York with no traffic on the streets.

"Everything that was going on, especially with the weather and the awards, and having my close friends there, it was extremely special, and something I'll remember vividly for a long time," Arrieta said. "I'd like to be there again at some point."

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Cubs.com Maddon shifting to spring lineup of regulars By Jesse Sanchez

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Seven, possibly eight, regulars are expected in the lineup against the D-backs on Thursday night in Scottsdale, prompting a lineup construction discussion with Cubs manager Joe Maddon before Wednesday's Cactus League matchup against the Royals.

First, Maddon playfully characterized Thursday's lineup featuring Dexter Fowler, Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler and Addison Russell as the "St. Patty's Day lineup," more than the Opening Day lineup.

"It's March 17, right? [Bench coach] Davey [Martinez] is writing the lineup," Maddon said. "It's an exhibition game. I can't emphasize that enough."

The manager did say he was pleased with the pace of camp and expects his regulars to play two or three days in a row as it gets closer to the end of the month.

"I don't put so much emphasis on all those things. I do like bringing it more sharply and focused, regarding how we approach the day as we get closer," Maddon said. "For me, it's still kind of a wide spectrum right now that we are starting to bring in. You are going to play, hopefully, until November. "

Furthermore, Maddon added that he is evaluating where Russell will bat in the lineup. He is also leaning toward batting the pitcher ninth during the regular season with Russell in the seventh or eighth spot in the order.

"Part of the theory last year was if you think a guy is going to pitch deep into the game, you hit him ninth. If you don't think he would, you hit him eighth so you can hit for him sooner," Maddon said. "It's a possibility -- season in progress -- if I think that's starting to pop up, I might throw that back in there for that reason. Again, if I'm just seeing a guy that needs to be better protected in a way, I might do that also."

On the injury front, veteran outfielder Shane Victorino (tight right calf) is expected to play by this weekend. Matt Szczur (oblique) is progressing and Tommy La Stella (strained left calf) is taking ground balls.

"Nothing is horribly wrong with any of those guys," Maddon said. "We are just being cautious."

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ESPNChicago.com Cubs lose to Royals as Hector Rondon continues disturbing spring trend By Jesse Rogers

SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Chicago Cubs lost 10-0 to the on Wednesday, dropping their spring record to 4-11-1. Here are some storylines from the game.

Hector Rondon: The Cubs' closer continued a concerning pattern as he gave up seven hits and five runs, including an opposite-field home run, before being pulled with two outs in the eighth inning. The outing ballooned his spring ERA to 22.13. Here’s how his four outings have gone:

March 7: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R

March 10: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R

March 13: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R

Wednesday: 2/3 IP, 7 H, 5 R

As you can see it’s progressively getting worse. Is there cause for concern? Only if the pattern continues. The Cubs had similar problems in the past with closers during the spring which carried over to the regular season. While there’s no definitive way to know if they will in Rondon’s case, a couple of good outings before breaking camp will help ease the pressure while undoubtedly providing him confidence. At this point there’s now a reason to closely watch his next outing.

John Lackey: He gave up six hits over five innings but didn’t walk anyone. He was fine with the performance, as he feels like it’s still early in the spring.

“I felt really good about it,” he said afterwards. “It’s a good test. Still trying to establish the fastball. It’s a really good fastball-hitting team so it was a good test. Not everything is there yet, but it’s a step forward.”

Lackey was the first to bat in a game, as manager Joe Maddon will use them more at the plate as the second half of the Cactus League gets going. Lackey went 0 for 2.

“I used to be a lot better at it,” Lackey stated. “A long time ago. That’s what happens when you’ve been in one league for 15 years.”

Playing time: Maddon says he’ll start playing his regulars more with about 10 days left in spring training. The basic plan calls for them to play 2 of every 3 games.

Walking wounded: Maddon claims there’s progress with several players who’ve been out with injuries. None are considered serious, though Tommy La Stella (calf), Shane Victorino (calf) and Matt Szczur (oblique) continue to miss games. The latter two are fighting for a roster spot.

Pitching update: After Jason Hammel's turn in the rotation on Thursday, Kyle Hendricks gets the start on Friday against the White Sox, Pierce Johnson goes Saturday night versus Cleveland and Jon Lester throws Sunday against the Royals. Jake Arrieta will take his turn in a “B” game in Mesa on Saturday morning.

Next Up: The Cubs host Arizona at 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT) on Thursday with Hammel on the mound. The game can be seen on ESPN.

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ESPNChicago.com Cubs not happy with Chicago's smokeless tobacco ban By Jesse Rogers

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- At least one Chicago Cubs smokeless tobacco user is finding the bright side in a new ban that would produce fines for players caught using at Wrigley Field or U.S. Cellular Field.

"It's going to be hard because you're an addict, pretty much," catcher Miguel Montero said after being informed of the ban on Wednesday. "It'll be tough to quit cold turkey. Hopefully (this) will help me to quit."

But Montero also joined others, including pitcher John Lackey and manager Joe Maddon, in expressing disappointment that the city of Chicago is telling players what they can or cannot do with a legal substance.

"We're grown men," Lackey said. "People in the stands can have a beer, but we can't do what we want? That's a little messed up."

Chicago became the fourth city to ban smokeless tobacco at sports venues, joining San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston in attempting to reduce its use in athletics.

In fact, the state of California has approved the measure as well, affecting stadiums in Oakland, Anaheim and San Diego beginning in 2017. And New York will vote Tuesday on the same measure.

It will become law in Chicago in 90 days, right in the middle of the baseball season.

"I'm into personal freedoms," Maddon said. "I don't understand the point with all that. Just eradicate tobacco period if you're going to go that route. I'm not into over-legislating the human race, so for me I'll just have to listen and learn."

Maddon and Lackey, both non-users, expressed more pushback over the new ban than Montero, who said he couldn't remember when he started using because it has been so long.

"I'll probably be a little bit moody," Montero joked about quitting. "I'm going to do my best to try and not use it."

A first offense will result in a fine of not less than $250, then $500 for a second violation and not less than $2,500 for each additional violation that occurs within one year of the first offense. Maddon was adamant that his players follow the new rules but said he simply believes in the freedom to make up one's mind when it comes to a legal substance.

"I will not advise them to run counter to whatever is going on," Maddon said. "A lot of that stuff I have a hard time with. I'm the wrong guy to talk to about that. If someone is going to make up my mind for me ... that's where I draw the line personally.

"I stopped chewing tobacco 15 years ago. I know the pitfalls. I'm into education. Educate the masses, and then everybody can make their own decisions. That's what I'm all about."

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CSNChicago.com Dale Sveum's takeaways after Royals beat Mets team that shut down Cubs By Patrick Mooney

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Dale Sveum has been in this game long enough to know how it works.

When the Cubs fired Sveum after 96 losses in 2013, the story became about his tough-love approach being too tough, some personality quirks and how the manager’s hitting philosophy clashed with Theo Epstein’s front office.

When the Kansas City Royals won the World Series last year, the narrative shifted into Sveum being the common- sense hitting coach who helped a young core of players grow up and figure out how to beat the team that shut down the Cubs in the playoffs.

Sveum never converted to Small Ball or pretended he had a super-secret blueprint to attack Matt Harvey, Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom and the power pitching that swept the Cubs out of the National League Championship Series.

Sveum’s low-key news conferences and brutal honesty didn’t always play well with his bosses and players in Chicago. But he’s always been willing to answer direct questions and explain big-picture concepts in detail.

— “It comes (down) to personnel,” Sveum said Wednesday before Kansas City rolled to a 10-0 Cactus League win over the Cubs at Surprise Stadium. “It’s not like ‘The Royals Way’ of hitting.

“Eight years from now, we could have different personnel where we’re going to have to take another track. But because of our ballpark, because of our (hitting profiles), we have to really concentrate on putting the ball in play and being good in 3-2 counts. We’re not going to walk much.

“We do have the hand-eye coordination where we do put the ball in play. We’re not going to hit home runs. We’re just not going to do that at our ballpark. Yeah, you put our team in Houston or Miller Park or Wrigley on nice days ... we’d hit 160, maybe 200 home runs. But in our park, we know that we have to do things. We have to get the line moving.”

— The Cubs understand they will never become the Royals, but they hoped to change their offensive identity by investing $240 million in Jason Heyward and Ben Zobrist this offseason.

The Cubs tried to trade for Zobrist last summer but didn’t have the kind of blue-chip pitching prospect (Sean Manaea) the Oakland A’s wanted. Zobrist became a trade-deadline difference-maker, hitting .303 with an .880 OPS during Kansas City’s magical playoff run.

“He brings a lot of things (to the table as) a switch-hitter that can drive the ball,” Sveum said. “He’ll give you a good at-bat all the time.

“It makes the other manager do different things. The biggest thing (for us) was he just solidified our lineup. It was just another threat from the left side of the plate. On a constant basis, it made the pitchers work harder.

“People always want to kind of come up with that ’04 and ’05 Red Sox lineup. Theo was always (about that). I’m like: ‘Theo, come on, dude.’ First of all, we had like three or four switch-hitters. One day we get (bleeping) eight left-handers in the lineup and our only righty was Manny Ramirez. Not a bad lineup. The next day, we could have eight right-handers and our left-hander was David Ortiz. And they were all 30 years old and in their prime and obviously pretty good, too. You fell into that lineup. Don’t think that’s ever happening again.

“But it does really make your lineup a lot tougher to get through when you can put (a guy like Zobrist) and more left-handers (in there).”

— As a coach in Boston — and the manager at Wrigley Field — Sveum impressed Epstein with his ability to break down film, interpret data and create a game-planning system. Sveum said he watched the NLCS but didn’t consult with any Cubs personnel before facing the Mets.

“Obviously, I dissected that series,” Sveum said. “It’s the same kind of hitters. (The Cubs are) pretty aggressive. They do walk, obviously, more than we do and strike out a lot more. But there are some free-swingers (on both teams) and the same kind of numbers across the board on and breaking balls.

“Besides Harvey (in Game 5 throwing) a heck of a lot more fastballs (in the World Series), they pitched us pretty much the same way they pitched the Cubs. Which I thought was going to happen, because the numbers didn’t lie.”

— Joe Maddon is the perfect manager for this team and this market. But Sveum certainly would have done better than a .392 winning percentage with this type of talent and actual big-market resources.

“You can talk until you’re blue in the face,” Sveum said. “But we have nine guys that care about winning every single day. It’s being winning hitters. That’s why people are like: ‘Oh, why did you bunt in that situation?’ Well, we’re not going to walk, so we’re going to do things.

“Everybody picks (each other) up and there’s no egos here. Nobody ever talks about stats. Nobody says: ‘Oh, I’m going to hit 30 and drive in 120 this year.’ There’s no crap like that, (which) you hear everywhere else.

“Those kind of goals get in your way. We’re just lucky to have the (Eric) Hosmers of the world. It doesn’t matter if he punches out four times or gets four hits — he’s the same guy every day.

“Our best players are pretty special people. You have the Alex Gordons of the world — they treat rookies with a lot of respect. This is one of the first teams I’ve been around where rookies are real comfortable.”

As Kansas City found out while waiting 30 years in between World Series titles, it takes time to create a culture, allow young hitters to learn from their failures and build a championship nucleus.

Or as Sveum might say: Ya think?

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CSNChicago.com Cubs might be giving sneak preview of Opening Day lineup By Patrick Mooney

SURPRISE, Ariz. – The Lineup is an evolving concept for Joe Maddon, a manager who will run numbers and play matchups with a Cubs roster that seemingly has unlimited possibilities. But this might be a rough outline for what you’ll see on Opening Day:

1. Dexter Fowler, CF 2. Jason Heyward, RF 3. Ben Zobrist, 2B 4. Anthony Rizzo, 1B 5. Kris Bryant, 3B 6. Kyle Schwarber, C 7. Jorge Soler, LF 8. Addison Russell, SS 9. Jason Hammel, P

At least that’s how Cubs instructor/ESPN broadcaster Rick Sutcliffe framed it Wednesday on Twitter (before it was released to the Chicago media):

Heyward essentially told the same thing to a reporter with the Associated Press, that Thursday night’s lineup against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Sloan Park in Mesa will be sort of a sneak preview.

Obviously, Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta will face the Los Angeles Angels on April 4 and the Cubs will need a designated hitter in an American League ballpark. Maddon also downplayed the idea of showing off his A-team on St. Patrick’s Day for a national audience.

“It’s spring training,” Maddon said. “It’s March 17th. Everybody’s still getting ready.”

But it probably gives some insight into what the Cubs are thinking now. If Schwarber, as a catcher/outfielder, is going to focus on working with one pitcher, it might be Hammel. And Maddon could bump Russell up to the seventh or eighth spot after consulting with the analytics department.

“The geeks got back to me,” Maddon said. “I got some really good information. I’m looking at that stuff right now. It is (still under evaluation). It could be versus righties and versus lefties having something to do with that.

“I’ll say I’ll probably lean (toward) the pitcher hitting ninth this year, more than we did eighth last year. A lot of that had to do with the development of Addison. It’s a different animal this year, so you may see the pitcher hit ninth.”

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CSNChicago.com Joe Maddon on Chicago tobacco ban: 'I'm not into over-legislating the human race' By Patrick Mooney

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Joe Maddon manages his team with an anti-rules philosophy that allows Cubs players to be themselves. No dress code. Grow your beard and your hair as long as you want. Just show up on time and play hard.

So you could predict how Maddon would react to Chicago’s push to ban smokeless tobacco at the city’s ballparks and arenas.

“I’m into personal freedoms,” Maddon said Wednesday at Surprise Stadium. “I don’t quite understand the point with all that. Just eradicate tobacco, period, if you’re going to go that route. I’m not into over-legislating the human race.

“I stopped chewing tobacco about 15 years ago. I’m glad that I did, because I think I feel better because of it. I know the pitfalls. But I’m into (educating) the masses and let everybody make their own decisions.

“Inherently, that’s what I’m about – (not telling) me what I can and cannot do as an adult.”

The City Council news broke before the Cubs played the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals in Arizona. Chicago will raise the legal age to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products from 18 to 21. The city will also tax products beyond cigarettes, like cigars and chewing tobacco.

“You don’t want your Little League kid to do that,” pitcher John Lackey said after throwing five sharp innings and allowing two runs in a 10-0 loss. He gestured toward his son wearing a No. 41 Lackey jersey in the visiting clubhouse. “I don’t want him to do it. I don’t do it personally. But grown men should have their own choices.

“People in the stands can have a beer, but we can’t do what we want? That’s a little messed up.”

Boston and San Francisco are among the big-league cities imposing similar measures, with tobacco products banned at Fenway Park beginning April 1 and the Giants about to begin their first season at AT&T Park under the new law.

Maddon said he used to dip and chew, but finally stopped around 2000, at the urging of his kids. Stuffing Bounty paper towels in his mouth helped him quit.

“It comes down to telling me what I can and cannot do,” Maddon said. “If it’s illegal, then I can’t do it, I get it. But don’t try to make choices for me. Like a couple years ago – (when) they made it so you couldn’t serve a certain-size soda pop in New York City – come on.

“When everybody else thinks that they know what’s good for me, I don’t appreciate that.”

Veteran catcher Miguel Montero, who originally signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001, has been hooked since playing in the minor leagues, where tobacco products are technically banned.

The Players Association allowed for certain concessions – like not using tobacco during pre- and postgame TV interviews – without agreeing to total prohibition in the labor deal that expires after this season.

The Chicago measure becomes law 90 days after passage, according to a City Council spokesman, with a $250 minimum fine for a first violation, a $500 fine for the second violation and at least a $2,500 penalty for each additional violation that occurs within one year of the first offense.

“(This) probably will help me to quit, because it’s a really bad habit,” Montero said. “We’ll probably have to get a lot of nicotine gum instead. It’s going to be hard, because you’re an addict, pretty much. It’s going to be tough to quit cold turkey. Hopefully, I can quit.”

Montero smiled at the group of reporters standing by his locker.

“I’m probably going to be a little bit moody,” Montero said, “so I probably won’t want to talk to you guys sometimes.”

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