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Home , Kyle Schwarber, Matt Szczur, Power pitcher

April 21, 2017

 Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ 8-man bullpen looks increasingly like key to repeat effort http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-8-man-bullpen-looks-increasingly-like-key-to-repeat-effort/

 Cubs.com, Full circle: Rings mean World to Cubs scouts http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/225462742/longtime-cubs-scouts-thrilled-to-receive-rings/

 Cubs.com, Szczur's Game 7 painting auctioned for $35K http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/225437060/matt-szczurs-painting-raised-35k-for-charity/

 ESPNChicago.com, Are Cubs' struggles usual hangover ... or something more? http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/43785/are-the-cubs-struggles-a-usual-world-series- hangover-or-something-more

 Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Kyle Schwarber looks forward to homecoming of sorts this weekend http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kyle-schwarber-cincinnati-cubs-notes-spt-0421- 20170420-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Cubs makes most of limited playing time http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-miguel-montero-backup-role-cubs-spt-0421- 20170420-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, makes another 'most' list http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-theo-epstein-time-magazine-influential-20170420- story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Cubs' charity ball raises $2.2M with aid of Matt Szczur painting, Jimmy Butler jersey http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chicagoinc/ct-laura-ricketts-cubs-charity-inc-spt-0421-20170420- story.html

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Chicago Sun-Times Cubs’ 8-man bullpen looks increasingly like key to repeat effort By Gordon Wittenmyer

Just before the season began, Cubs right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. said his goal was to make the All-Star team.

It might have sounded bold coming from a relief who doesn’t have a defined role, much less the ’s job.

It might even have seemed laughable to some on the outside, especially considering the skinny power pitcher is in his first full big-league season.

But, he said, “You never know.”

Carl Edwards Jr., the day after returning from bereavement leave (because of a death in the family), finishing his sixth scoreless appearance of the season Tuesday night. It’s hard to know much of anything about a baseball team 15 games into a season.

But as the Cubs open a long road trip Friday night in Cincinnati, the early returns suggest Edwards’ goal at least isn’t laughable. In fact, he’s quickly becoming the key man in what’s looking more and more like the key unit for this team every day as it plays more close games into the late innings.

The Cubs have won four of their first five series, the only series loss coming in a three-game sweep against the Pirates last weekend.

For all the hand-wringing over the lack of early domination and the recent 4-5 homestand, the Cubs led every time against the Pirates with the bullpen in the game.

If the Cubs held on to those leads, they would be 11-4, the same record they had at this point last year.

Those happened to be the three games Edwards missed while on bereavement leave for a death in the family.

How much of a difference he might have made in any of those games can be debated.

What’s harder to debate is that a team built to lean harder on its bullpen from the start this year is finding that unit increasingly under a microscope.

It’s also looking increasingly important in the team’s efforts to repeat, given the short offseason and hangover look of some of the starters and the especially fierce play of improved rivals.

That’s part of the reason a roster move is expected Friday to assure the bullpen keeps the extra (eighth) man indefinitely.

“We’re going to be fine out there. It’s all about confidence,” said after the first of two comeback victories this week to finish the homestand.

“You’ve just got to keep getting them out there because they’re really good. We have great arms. We’re able to get both righties and lefties out. Guys complement one another to the point that if we get this going properly that it could be, like, one day [Pedro] Strop [setting up in the eighth], the next day [Hector] Rondon, give a guy the day off, don’t push him two in a row. That would be an optimal situation.”

Strop and Rondon, who have been keys in closing down games the last three years, have struggled early.

But Edwards is on the rise. He might be the most trusted of all the relievers by the manager.

And the Cubs spent much of their offseason efforts on the bullpen. They traded for All-Star closer Wade Davis and signed left-hander Brian Duensing and right-hander Koji Uehara. Left-hander Mike Montgomery, who pitched once through the order in relief during the victory Wednesday, is a key swingman.

It’s all by design after nursing a depth-challenged rotation through two remarkably healthy seasons and deep playoff runs.

Some starting depth has been added (Montgomery through a trade last July; Eddie Butler, now at Class AAA Iowa, through a trade over the winter). But the deeper bullpen — with one declared closer and seven “setup” guys — is designed to be the key for winning the close games in a year the run differential is almost certain to go down.

So far, nine of the Cubs’ first 15 games have been decided by two runs or less, among the most in the majors. Four of their games have ended on walk-off plays.

“As these bullpen dudes start getting their confidence [it will take off],” Maddon said. “I see that showing up relatively soon.”

If that happens, keep an eye on Edwards, who hasn’t given up a run in six appearances, and Maddon, the manager of the National League All-Stars this year.

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Cubs.com Full circle: Rings mean World to Cubs scouts By Carrie Muskat

CHICAGO -- They've spent more than 90 years combined looking for the players who would help the Cubs win a World Series. They've endured razzing from their peers and sympathy from friends after each losing season. They've been on the road so much, they've lost track of the miles and hotel nights. But this week, Billy Blitzer, Bob Lofrano and Mark Servais were like little kids on Christmas morning.

The three longtime scouts finally received a World Series ring, each personalized with their name. Most important to them -- it has the Cubs' logo on it.

"You're not in this job to make money," Servais said. "You're in it for one thing."

How'd they get here? Lofrano, now 67, and his family moved from Chicago to California when he was 5 years old. Despite the distance, he maintained his love of the Cubs, inspired by players such as Ernie Banks. In 1981, Lofrano was a baseball at Chatsworth (Calif.) High School, and he wrote a letter to the Cubs. He didn't consider any other team.

"I wrote to one team, one team only," Lofrano said. "Who knew if they'd ever answer? Here I sit, 36 years later." Doug Mapson, an area scout for the Cubs who signed Greg Maddux, responded, and he hired Lofrano as an associate scout. Lofrano stayed with the Cubs under Dallas Green -- and he remembers the "Building a New Tradition" motto -- and Jim Hendry, and now current Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein.

Besides scouting, Lofrano is also the athletic director at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.

"This is a high priority," Lofrano said of his job with the Cubs. "I go to school, and boom, I'm off at 4 o'clock and go to a game. I go to a Dodger game, Angels game. When summer comes, it's a lot easier.

"And now, to end up with that," Lofrano said, showing off the diamond-encrusted ring on his right hand.

Servais, 67, was friends with legendary scout Stan Zielinski, who called to ask about a player in the La Crosse, Wis., area.

"Stan said, 'By the way, I could use a little help. Are you intested in scouting?'" Servais said. "I said, 'Are you serious? I don't know anything about scouting.'"

Apparently, Zielinski could scout a scout. Servais, who is Mariners manager Scott Servais' uncle, was a Midwest area scout for five years, and he has been a pro scout for the past 17 years.

One of the players Servais watched was , when he was pitching in the Carolina League for the Rangers in 2012.

"When he sat back there and charted [pitches], you knew this guy was nothing but serious, serious business," Servais said.

Note to Minor League players: Scouts find out a lot about someone's commitment to the game by watching how they chart a pitcher from the stands. Lofrano remembers Clayton Kershaw when he was 19 years old, pitching in Midland, Mich., and he gave him the highest grade, partly because of how the lefty paid attention to the game. "You talk to these kids -- 'How you doing?' -- and you can tell some kids are focused and they know what they're going to do out there, and some kids are out there and they want to get a hot dog or whatever," Servais said.

"Some of those kids are picking your brain," Blitzer said. "They're trying to figure out what you're looking for." A player's off-the-field makeup is as important as his physical talent, and it could be a determining factor in a trade. Lofrano watched when he was playing for Triple-A Tucson in the Padres' organization. The scout knew about Rizzo's successful battle against cancer when he was Minor Leaguer with the Red Sox.

"The guys in the stands were talking about what a great guy [Rizzo] is and how he deals with people," Lofrano said. "That one sticks with me more than anything. You write your reports, you turn them in -- who knows what's going to happen? Theo makes the trade."

"I think that's a key ingredient with the whole club," Servais said of the Cubs. "They're young kids, but we haven't heard one bad word about any of these kids. You win with good people."

Blitzer, 63, is a baseball lifer. He was coaching a sandlot team, and a man approached him to ask for help with a tryout camp. The man, Ralph DiLullo, was part of the Scouting Bureau, and he had worked for the Cubs, signing Bruce Sutter and Joe Niekro. Blitzer joined the bureau, and his first roommate was Lennie Merullo, who played for the Cubs on the 1945 team that was the last to reach the World Series until last season. "It was really fate that this man was sitting next to me, and he saw something in me and he taught me how to scout," Blitzer said of DiLullo.

When was 11, he was Blitzer's bat boy, and the scout would eventually sign him out of Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., when the was the first overall pick by the Cubs in the 1982 Draft. In a meeting with the Cubs' scouts in February 2012, Epstein asked Blitzer to address the group.

"I wanted someone to testify about what the organization means to people, how deep that connection runs, how meaningful it can be," Epstein said at the time.

During the 2015 postseason, the Cubs' scouts and Minor League staff were to parade around the warning track before a game at Wrigley Field. Blitzer was called to the front of the group.

"They said, 'Theo wants you to lead everybody out,'" Blitzer said. "I got all choked up."

Blitzer wasn't going to let his health problems interfere with the World Series, either. He had a cancer scare when doctors found an abscess on his colon. Five days after the World Series ended, Blitzer had hernia surgery. He'd asked doctors to postpone the procedure. On Wednesday, he had stitches on his left hand removed.

"They told me to bring the ring because they want to take a picture of that with the scar, and they're going to put the photo on the wall," Blitzer said, laughing.

Since the Cubs won the World Series in November, friends, family and anyone who knows Lofrano, Servais and Blitzer have asked to see their rings.

"Look at this, they put our names on it," Lofrano said, studying the details. "It says, 'We never quit.'"

That phrase could apply to the scouts, too.

"I can't tell you how much this means to me, to all of us," Blitzer said. "This is worth the 35 years."

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Cubs.com Szczur's Game 7 painting auctioned for $35K By Carrie Muskat

CHICAGO -- Matt Szczur's painting of the final out of Game 7 of the World Series was auctioned off for $35,000 at the Cubs' Bricks and Ivy Ball, held Wednesday night at Navy Pier. The event raised more than $2.2 million for Cubs Charities.

Szczur was surprised at how much his painting garnered. He posted on Twitter: "Honored and humbled that my first painting was auctioned off for $35,000 for such a great cause. Thank you @cubs and cubs charities for allowing me to give back and be a part of something special."

Other items auctioned off included a World Series trophy tour. Two of these tours sold for $60,000 each, and they will allow a fan to display the championship trophy at their home or office for two hours. The winner can invite friends, take photos, host a party or simply stare at it.

Another top seller was a collection of autographed from the 27 players who have hit 500 home runs. That was auctioned off at $100,000, and the set includes players from every decade since the 1900s, including Ernie Banks, Jimmie Foxx, Ken Griffey Jr and Babe Ruth. All of the balls have been authenticated.

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ESPNChicago.com Are Cubs' struggles usual World Series hangover ... or something more? By Jesse Rogers

CHICAGO -- So how do you like the roller coaster so far?

The have had an up-and-down -- and sometimes dramatic -- start to 2017 as they head out on the road for the final nine games of April while sporting an 8-7 record. Don’t be surprised if they return from their trip right about where they are now. Recent history tells us that reigning champions don’t always get off to dominant starts.

By now you’ve probably memorized the list of reasons, beginning with the short offseason, for why a defending champ could start slow. For the Cubs, there’s a combination of factors: They didn’t just win a championship, they ended the longest drought in pro-sports history. Then, manager Joe Maddon conducted an even more laid-back spring training than usual, knowing his team’s emotional 2016 ride went into November.

The past two seasons, the Cubs were ready to roll right away, but this year has been a different story. So let’s examine which groups have -- and haven’t -- hit their stride.

The lineup

High point: The last two games against the Brewers were a reminder of how devastating and deep the Cubs offense can be. Hitters got back to grinding out at-bats. Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell commented how well the Cubs worked the count leading to high totals for the Brewers' back-end relievers. Chicago's ninth inning Wednesday was a throwback to the 2016 Cubs, who grinded out those ABs, then hammered the opposition with the deep ball.

Low point: It came last Friday when the Cubs left the bases loaded in the eighth and ninth innings en route to a 4-2 loss to Pittsburgh, the first of three defeats that weekend to the Pirates. The Cubs are near the top of the league in with men in scoring position. That’s an area where Maddon wants to see improvement.

What to watch: Can veteran , who's hitting .294, keep it up? Same question for Jr., who's hitting .391 in 23 at-bats. Both have been pleasant surprise, and while their numbers are bound to come down, their confidence is going up. Maddon has vowed to get Almora in the lineup more. Even if his offense flattens out, Almora still is valuable because his defense has been stellar.

The starting staff

High point: Simply put, is the high point of the rotation right now. He pitched a ton last year and now is being asked to carry the load as several other have had slow starts. His 1.00 ERA and 17 K's in 18 innings show how valuable he's been.

Low point: Coming out of spring training, no arm looked more ready than the right one of Kyle Hendricks, but it hasn’t carried over to the regular season. His 6.19 ERA is the worst among Cubs starters by more than two runs, while also has been hit hard. Both already have given up four home runs, and not all of them have come in hitter-friendly conditions.

What to watch: Hendricks has had slow starts the last three Aprils, so maybe he’s just one of those guys who needs a month of starts. He tweaked some mechanics, which forced him to throw more between starts, but that led to a velocity drop Wednesday. His and changeup looked too alike, and the Brewers took advantage. Look for Hendricks to work out the kinks by the time the team returns from its road trip.

The bullpen

High point: There’s little doubt wins No. 7 and 8 for the Cubs wouldn't have happened without a great couple of days from the bullpen. They aren’t called upon to bail out the starting staff often, but Brett Anderson needed help Tuesday, as did Hendricks on Wednesday -- and they got it. The relief staff threw the equivalent of a complete game, giving up a total of just one run -- on a wind-aided ball to left field. It was a great performance just as they were getting maligned for some struggles.

Low point: Twice last weekend, the Cubs had the lead in the late innings only to see it slip away. A 1-0, eighth- inning advantage turned into an easy win for the Pirates on Sunday as four Cubs relievers struggled in two losses over the weekend. Maddon isn’t sure who to turn to just yet, as relievers have alternated between looking great then struggling. might be at the top of that list.

What to watch: Hector Rondon might be the best surprise of the early season after looking awful in spring training, but there’s bite to his slider, and he's locating his fastball better than he did a month ago. Look for Maddon to define some roles as the calendar turns to May, though he’ll always have the ability to mix and match if enough arms come around. The bottom line is the bullpen isn’t organized yet, so patience over panic might be needed.

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Chicago Tribune Cubs' Kyle Schwarber looks forward to homecoming of sorts this weekend By Mark Gonzales

Kyle Schwarber's return to Great American Ballpark this weekend will be special after he missed nearly all of last year while recovering from left knee surgery.

Schwarber enjoyed one of his greatest games of his young career against the Reds in Cincinnati on July 21, 2015, when he went 4-for-7 with a game-tying in the ninth inning and a game-winning homer in the 13th.

Schwarber accomplished the feat in front of several family members and friends who were deprived of the chance last season to watch him play one hour south of his hometown of Middletown, Ohio, because of his injury.

"It will be a lot of fun to see friends, family, the whole nine yards there," Schwarber said. "And I have a new nephew, so I get to see him. I'm really looking forward to that.

"You don't realize how much you miss your family until you see them. It's that kind of deal. I'm ready to see a few people and be able to catch up with everyone."

Spotlight for Baez: Javier Baez edged into the spotlight recently when he filmed a commercial for Toyota.

"We spent the whole day doing it," Baez said. "We tried to make sure it was right and funny at the same time."

The commercial was aired shortly after Baez was honored last week when a street was named for him in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.

"It's an honor being recognized by the fans from there," said Baez, a native of Puerto Rico. "We'll see how everything goes from there."

Extra innings: and Anthony Rizzo are the only Cubs players to have started every game. … Cubs prospect has played nine games at second base, two in left field and one apiece in center and right during his first 13 games for Triple-A Iowa.

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Chicago Tribune Cubs catcher Miguel Montero makes most of limited playing time By Mark Gonzales

After playing a significant role in three consecutive games, Miguel Montero will be in the visitor's dugout for Friday night's game with the Reds.

It's not an easy spot for the Cubs catcher.

"If you love to play, it's hard to get used to it," Montero said. "Even during when I played every day, I never asked for a day off. … But mentally you start to accept it a little bit.

"In my mind, I still believe I can play every day. And that's something I don't want to get away from. … It's just because the mindset for you to be ready in case you have to play two days or three days in a row. God forbid if something were to happen, and then you have to step up in an everyday role."

Montero, 33, made the most of two consecutive starts with five hits, including a two-run homer that helped the Cubs rally to a 9-7 victory Tuesday.

He came off the bench to deliver a key single in the Cubs' comeback victory Wednesday, and he will be ready to step in as part of a double switch or as a pinch-hitter Friday after watching youngster work with veteran left-hander Jon Lester against the Reds at Great American Ballpark.

David Ross' retirement (from baseball, at least) has given more playing time — including the responsibility of handling Lester — to Contreras. But manager Joe Maddon has shown enough faith in Montero to catch him more than once through the Cubs' rotation.

"He's a high-end catcher," Maddon said after Tuesday's game. "He receives the ball well. His throwing is better, his at-bats have been wonderful and he's comfortable at the plate."

Montero remains realistic about his playing time and the Cubs' commitment to Contreras.

"If that's the case to be benched for a guy like him, I'm OK with it," Montero said. "Because he has what it takes to be an everyday guy and an All-Star."

Although rosters are getting younger, there could be a market for a veteran left-handed-hitting catcher such as Montero. FanRagSports.com reported this spring that the Diamondbacks inquired about Montero, but the Cubs elected to keep him. Before Montero was traded from the D-Backs to the Cubs in December 2014, the previous D- Backs' regime asked Montero about a future in the organization when his current contract expires after 2017.

"I don't know what's going to happen next," Montero said. "I just take one day at a time and take every opportunity I get. Maybe I will find another job somewhere else (next season) or maybe here. It depends if everything is right."

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Chicago Tribune Theo Epstein makes another 'most' list By Tim Bannon

Not only is Theo Epstein regarded in some circles as the world's greatest leader, he's also apparently pretty darn influential too.

Time Magazine released their annual 100 most influential people in the world list on Thursday, and the Cubs president of baseball operations made it.

If you're dubious — and why wouldn't you be — just listen to Evanston Township High School graduate John Cusack.

“Theo may be a creature of destiny, but he recognizes that he's also just another flawed human being, no better than anyone else," the actor and Cubs fan Cusack wrote for Time Magazine.

"It's an artful thing to thread that needle and wear it as a matter of common sense. He's more Old World than old school. Words and deeds need to match. Trust is earned. He apologizes to no one for caring.”

Time's list also includes Chance the Rapper (who was also included in Fortune's recent list of top world leaders, the one that had Epstein No. 1, ahead of Pope Francis and German Chancellor Angela Merkel), LeBron James, Tom Brady, Colin Kaepernick, Simone Biles, John Legend, Viola Davis, Jeff Bezos, Melinda Gates and Riz Ahmed.

Time also hired guest contributes to write about some of the influencers. One such writer is Mayor Rahm Emanuel who shares his thoughts on White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus.

But, wait, no Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler or Fred Hoiberg? Are the Time masterminds not watching the Bulls-Celtics series?

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Chicago Tribune Cubs' charity ball raises $2.2M with aid of Matt Szczur painting, Jimmy Butler jersey By Phil Thompson

The Cubs raised $2.2 million for their foundation at the Bricks and Ivy Ball at Navy Pier on Wednesday.

Matt Szczur's painting of teammates Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant was sold for $35,000, one of a number of items at the auction that also included a signed Jimmy Butler jersey, Cubs logo Weber grill and Hamilton tickets.

Laura Ricketts, a Cubs co-owner and chairwoman of Cubs Charities, said the money will benefit a children's fitness program, an initiative to build and renovate baseball fields and playgrounds through the city, and the team's scholars program, which aids 25 college-bound high school students.

"Last year we estimate that our efforts reached over 117,000 kids in the city of Chicago, which is really what we're here about tonight," Ricketts said.

"We're not really about the stars and the players, although a lot of people come to the event because they want to see the players. They want to hear Joe Maddon speak."

Later, Szczur wrote on Instagram, "Honored and humbled that my first painting was auctioned off for $35,000 for such a great cause. Thank you @cubs and cubs charities for allowing me to give back and be a part of something special."

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