February 13, 2019 • Daily Herald, State of the Cubs: Maddon wants Cubs to 'Own It Now' https://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20190212/state-of-the-cubs-maddon-wants-cubs-to-own-it- now • The Athletic, Theo Epstein dives headfirst into thorny subjects as Cubs camp opens https://theathletic.com/815363/2019/02/13/theo-epstein-dives-headfirst-in-thorny-subjects-as- cubs-camp-opens/ • The Athletic, Letters from camp: Wouldn’t this be a good time for the Cubs to sign another free agent? https://theathletic.com/815298/2019/02/12/letters-from-camp-wouldnt-this-be-a-good-time-for- the-cubs-to-sign-another-free-agent/ • Cubs.com, Cubs open camp with high expectations https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-spring-training-camp-opens/c-303846844 • Cubs.com, Epstein details rigorous expectations for Russell https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/theo-epstein-discusses-addison-russell/c-303864044 • ESPNChicago.com, Cubs to 'enhance' domestic violence training ahead of Addison Russell's return http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25982773/cubs-enhance-domestic-violence-training-ahead- addison-russell-return • NBC Sports Chicago, Theo Epstein passionately responds to Joe Ricketts' racist emails: 'All fans are welcome' https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/theo-epstein-passionately-responds-joe-ricketts-racist- emails-all-fans-are-welcome-islamophobia-leaked-emails • NBC Sports Chicago, Cubs leaving the door open for another potential bullpen addition https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/cubs-leaving-door-open-another-potential-bullpen- addition-brach-montgomery-barnette-alzolay-kimbrel-harper • NBC Sports Chicago, Joe Maddon explains 'own it now' slogan for 2019 Cubs https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/joe-maddon-explains-own-it-now-slogan-2019-cubs • Chicago Tribune, Column: The Cubs are starting a new TV channel in 2020. Here's what that means for fans. https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-marquee-tv-channel-debut- sinclair-what-to-know-20190213-story.html • Chicago Tribune, What to watch for at Cubs spring training today, when pitchers and catchers hold their 1st workout https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-spring-training-joe-maddon-yu- darvish-20190213-story.html • Chicago Tribune, Theo Epstein says Cubs will have 'incredibly high standard' for Addison Russell and will try to make amends for Joe Ricketts' 'ugly, disgusting' emails https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-theo-epstein-addison-russell- joe-ricketts-20190212-story.html • Chicago Tribune, Cubs and Sinclair team up to launch regional sports network in 2020 https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-cubs-sinclair-regional-sports-network-20190212- story.html • Chicago Tribune, 5 takeaways from Cubs spring training on Tuesday, including a setback for Adbert Alzolay https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-pitchers-catchers-report-spring- training-20190212-story.html • Chicago Tribune, Cubs might add a moderately priced free-agent reliever https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-theo-epstein-free-agent- 20190212-story.html • Chicago Tribune, Column: Baseball is back — except for the 100 or so remaining free agents. Is this the new normal? https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/ct-spt-cubs-free-agents-spring-training- 20190212-story.html • Chicago Sun-Times, Same cast of Cubs takes it from the top again — this time with urgency https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/same-cast-cubs-spring-training-urgency/ • Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ Theo Epstein confronted Joe Ricketts’ hate head on — and it was very good https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/chicago-cubs-joe-ricketts-theo-epstein-islamophobia- diversity-joe-maddon-tom-ricketts/ • Chicago Sun-Times, Addison Russell in ‘bottom of the second’ in efforts to return to field for Cubs https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/addison-russell-bottom-of-second-inning-return-cubs- domestic-violence/ • Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ Theo Epstein condemns Joe Ricketts’ racist emails https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-theo-epstein-condemns-joe-ricketts-racist-emails/ -- Daily Herald State of the Cubs: Maddon wants Cubs to 'Own It Now' By Jim O'Donnell Where once a World Series championship was a dream too far, the password now is "reckoning." Cubs fans, thaw those broken hearts because it's trying time again. Four months after a 95-68 season ended with a retro-ivy 13-inning loss to Colorado in an NL wild-card game, the chase begins anew for Joe Maddon and his crew of blue. Pitchers and catchers were required to report to the club's Sloan Park spring training complex in Mesa on Tuesday. They'll begin workouts Wednesday. All position players are due in Sunday with the Cubs first full practice on Monday. Two seasons removed from the wonders of a 2016 title, the team is facing a year of itchy expectations. Joe Maddon -- accused by some of failing to impart a sense of urgency from gate-to-wire in 2018 -- made it clear Tuesday that he's crafted his own new motto: "Own It Now." "A big part of our success this year is going to be the fact that we own each moment," the Cubs manager said. "And if you take the word 'now' and flip it around, it becomes 'won.'" One could prove to be the loneliest number for Maddon, 65, who is in the fifth and final year of his contract with no renewal talk on tap. He essentially has all critical touch caps back from last season. That was the group that lolled to a 16-15 start, finally baboomed to the top of the NL-Central on July 14 and stayed there until the closing weekend. The final days proved brutal. The Cubs split their last two regular-season games with St. Louis when a sweep would have bagged the division crown. They then lost a tiebreaker to streaking Milwaukee at Wrigley Field -- when a win would have meant a push into the NLDS instead of the sudden 2-1 TKO by the visiting Rockies. Biggest surprise among Tuesday's check-ins at Sloan Park was Addison Russell. It was the veteran shortstop's first on-field appearance alongside teammates since his 40-game suspension for violating MLB's domestic abuse policy was announced Oct. 4. He took batting practice on a side playing field. Russell's suspension was retroactive to Sept. 21. That means he will not be eligible for reinstatement until Game 30 of the new season, scheduled for May 3, vs. the visiting Cardinals. Javier Baez will likely be the stopgap shortstop. Theo Epstein, the Cubs president of baseball ops, spoke about Russell when he chatted with reporters Tuesday, saying, "Addison is well aware that he's been given a conditional second chance. He's really taken things to heart. But we still have a long way to go." In terms of personnel for Opening Day -- March 28 at Texas -- the Cubs spring thing doesn't have far to go. Much attention will be focused on Yu Darvish, the six-year, $126 million signee who was sidelined and underwent elbow surgery after only eight starts in his first season with the organization. If Darvish is indeed back, he'll be a vital factor in a Cubs starting rotation that should include Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, $20 million man Cole Hamels and Jose Quintana. That quintet will push Mike Montgomery and Tyler Chatwood into the bullpen. That's also where a gaggle of recovering (Brandon Morrow, elbow surgery), new (Brad Brach and Tony Barnette) and peripherals will hope to be around to "Own It Now" when the money throwing begins. Despite the fact almost 100 free agents remain unsigned -- marqueed by Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and closer Craig Kimbrel -- Epstein and associates are not expected to break budget any time soon. This despite the fact that the respected Baseball Prospectus projects the Cubs finishing 81-81 and tied for third and last in the NL-Central with Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. If that comes to be, the password at Addison and Clark will be: "breakup." -- The Athletic Theo Epstein dives headfirst into thorny subjects as Cubs camp opens By Sahadev Sharma MESA, Ariz. – Sports are often seen as a respite from the real world, but it has never really been possible to “stick to sports.” For those hoping the start of spring training would allow for talk to strictly be about baseball, that wasn’t the case at Sloan Park where president Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and manager Joe Maddon addressed multiple controversial issues Tuesday afternoon. When asked about the suspended Addison Russell, Epstein seemed quite prepared to handle the topic, speaking for minutes on end without interruption. Epstein addressed not just what is expected of Russell internally, but also how the organization as a whole is attempting to step up and lead by example in the thorny issue of domestic violence. “We still have a long way to go,” Epstein said. “Addison is well aware that he’s been given a conditional second chance by this organization. There are a lot of standards we’re going to hold him to. He has to continue to put the work in to become a better a person, a better citizen, better teammate, better member of society, better father. The good news to report at this juncture is that he’s really taken things to heart and has put a significant amount of work in. He’s fully and enthusiastically complied with everything Major League Baseball has put in front of him as far as therapy and counseling going forward. “Beyond that he’s reached out on his own to engage with a therapist, someone he’s still in contact with three to four times a week and that relationship will continue long after the mandated therapy is done,” Epstein said.