Cubs Daily Clips
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October 6, 2017 ESPNChicago.com, Been there, done that: 'Underdog' Cubs feeling no pressure in repeat quest http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/46000/underdog-cubs-feeling-no-pressure-with-sights- set-on-repeating NBC Sports Chicago, Joe Maddon will again be under the microscope with Cubs back in playoff mode http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/joe-maddon-will-again-be-under-microscope-cubs-back-playoff- mode NBC Sports Chicago, Dusty Baker has a baseball mancrush on Kyle Hendricks http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/dusty-baker-has-baseball-mancrush-kyle-hendricks-0 NBC Sports Chicago, Las Vegas massacre hits close to home for Cubs superstar Kris Bryant: 'It broke my heart' http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/las-vegas-massacre-hits-close-home-cubs-superstar-kris-bryant-it- broke-my-heart NBC Sports Chicago, Looking at Cubs turnaround through eyes of Theo Epstein’s ‘mistake,’ Edwin Jackson http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/looking-cubs-turnaround-through-eyes-theo-epsteins-mistake- edwin-jackson NBC Sports Chicago, The Nationals NLDS rotation spells good news for the Cubs http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/chicago-cubs/mlb-nlds-nationals-rotation-scherzer-health-good-news- cubs-strasburg-gonzalez Chicago Tribune, Cubs no longer the story but still a story for baseball’s postseason http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-mlb-postseason-storylines-rosenthal-spt-1006- 20171005-column.html Chicago Tribune, No lineup shakeup in store as Cubs prepare for Stephen Strasburg http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-albert-almora-stephen-strasburg-cubs-notes-spt- 1006-20171005-story.html Chicago Tribune, To choke up or not to choke up? Cubs' Joe Maddon likes 'B' hack mentality http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-batters-choking-up-spt-1006-20171005- story.html Chicago Tribune, Should you be worried Cubs are worry-free this October? http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-sullivan-worry-free-cubs-spt-1006-20171005- column.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs youngsters eager to take greater ownership in NLDS http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-young-players-nlds-spt-1006-20171005- story.html Chicago Tribune, Are the Nationals this year's Cubs? 'There is some pressure on us' http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-nationals-washington-collapses-sullivan-spt-1006- 20171005-column.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs vs. Nationals: Who has the edge in the National League Division Series? http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-nationals-edge-spt-1006-20171005-story.html Chicago Tribune, NLDS Game 1 starters: Kyle Hendricks vs. Stephen Strasburg http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-pitching-matchup-game-1-spt-1006-20171005- story.html Chicago Sun-Times, TELANDER: There’s more than one way to skin a Nat https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/telander-theres-more-than-one-way-to-skin-a-nat/ Chicago Sun-Times, Can stronger Cubs back up owner’s boast in return to Washington? https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/can-stronger-cubs-back-up-owners-boast-in-return-to-washington/ Chicago Sun-Times, What’s with the poker face, Bryce Harper? Just smile like Kris Bryant https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/whats-with-the-poker-face-bryce-harper-just-smile-like-kris-bryant/ Chicago Sun-Times, MORRISSEY: Cubs trying to put the pressure on Nationals. All of it. https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/morrissey-cubs-trying-to-put-the-pressure-on-nationals-all-of-it/ Chicago Sun-Times, Kris Bryant reacts to Vegas shooting, says future in-law was there https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/chicago-cubs-kris-bryants-reacts-las-vegas-shooting-family/ Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs NLDS tickets cheaper this season compared to the last two years https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/chicago-cubs-nlds-baseball-tickets-cheap/ Chicago Sun-Times, Nationals announce NLDS Game 1 starter and Scherzer update https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/nationals-announce-starting-pitching-rotation-for-nlds/ Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs' Kyle Schwarber hopes to shine in postseason again http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20171005/chicago-cubs-kyle-schwarber-hopes-to-shine-in-postseason- again Daily Herald, Strasburg vs. Hendricks: Who has the edge? http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20171005/strasburg-vs-hendricks-who-has-the-edge Daily Herald, Hometown Vegas on minds of Bryant, Harper http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20171005/hometown-vegas-on-minds-of-bryant-harper Daily Herald, Lackey makes Cubs' NLDS roster; Rondon left off http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20171006/lackey-makes-cubs-nlds-roster-rondon-left-off Daily Herald, No shortage of motivation for ex-Cubs manager Baker http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20171005/no-shortage-of-motivation-for-ex-cubs-manager-baker Cubs.com, Hendricks to start Game 1 of NLDS for Cubs http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/257375538/kyle-hendricks-to-start-game-1-of-nlds/ Cubs.com, #VegasStrong: City on minds of Harper, Bryant http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/257501320/bryce-harper-kris-bryant-to-face-off-in-nlds/ Cubs.com, Cubs' title defense begins in DC vs. Nats http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/257547722/cubs-title-defense-begins-in-dc-vs-nats Cubs.com, Cubs-Nats: NLDS position-by-position http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/257381430/nlds-cubs-vs-nationals-positional-breakdown/ Cubs.com, 5 Statcast facts for NLDS: Cubs vs. Nationals http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/257404286/statcast-facts-for-nlds-cubs-nationals/ Cubs.com, Cubs will rely on experience in quest to repeat http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/257539970/cubs-to-rely-on-experience-in-quest-to-repeat/ Cubs.com, Happ highlights Cubs' impressive versatility http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/257536572/cubs-ian-happ-highlights-clubs-versatility/ Cubs.com, Schwarber now gets chance to face Strasburg http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/257534454/kyle-schwarber-gets-chance-to-face-nationals/ Cubs.com, Nats' speedy Turner a challenge for Cubs http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/257545962/cubs-need-to-control-nationals-trea-turner/ Cubs.com, Bridge from starter-closer critical for Cubs-Nats http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/257536568/cubs-nationals-have-solid-middle-relief/ -- ESPNChicago.com Been there, done that: 'Underdog' Cubs feeling no pressure in repeat quest By Jesse Rogers WASHINGTON -- At a team dinner in Washington on Wednesday, Chicago Cubs reliever Brian Duensing couldn’t remember who proposed the toast -- mostly because it wasn’t that memorable. The Cubs were watching the National League wild-card game in a relaxed setting. “It was no big deal,” Duensing said. “Next thing I know, everyone was raising their glass.” The Cubs toasted to their upcoming journey in the 2017 playoffs, but there’s little doubt nothing will top what they accomplished in 2016. No amount of pressure will compare to breaking the 108-year championship drought -- and that is something the Cubs are relying on this time around. Could there be any greater irony than if the team that couldn’t win one World Series in 108 years won two in two years? “That would be something,” lefty Mike Montgomery said. The Cubs looked like anything but defending champions in the first half of this season, but they had the best record in the National League in the second half. Now they enter their division series against the Washington Nationals with at least two other things going for them: They have experience and they are underdogs. “Experience equals knowing,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I think that’s important to understand. That’s what good experience really is. I want us to be eager as opposed to anxious. I think semantics matter.” The narrative for the Cubs heading into the postseason is pretty simple: Been there, done that. They don’t have home-field advantage against the other two division winners -- like they did last season, when they dominated the competition from start to finish -- but it’s not a big deal. Nothing is to this team. “We have history here with this group in October,” first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “Good history. Good feelings. Good vibes. … We didn’t let it affect us, but when you look back on it, the pressure was through the roof [last season]. Break a curse the way we did, the series we did it in. I don’t see it being any easier, but I think we’re built for it.” All of this might be splitting hairs, but the Cubs find a distinction between pressure and attention. And they know that Cubs fans are everywhere. “There’s always focus and attention here, man,” Maddon said. “Just walking across the street from the parking lot indicated that. That hasn’t changed.” It’s that attention that has them focused on a second straight championship -- something 17 National League teams have failed to achieve since 1976. Game 2 starter Jon Lester has three rings but is nowhere near satisfied. And he’s making sure his teammates aren’t either. “If you lose that hunger to win it, you may as well go home,” Lester stated bluntly. “If you don’t think you should win, then you probably shouldn’t be here.” The Cubs grudgingly accept being underdogs against the Nationals, but they don’t really believe it. Or at the very least, they don’t believe it means anything -- at least not to them. If the pressure gets to the Nationals because they are the perceived favorite, then so be it. The Cubs will keep it loose knowing they have their championship. “I think winning last year helps,” Lester said. “We’re not anxious. We’ve won, so you have that in your back pocket, so you’re not putting as much pressure on yourself to go out and perform.” Of course, that doesn’t mean the Cubs can just roll out of bed and repeat as champions.