Cubs Daily Clips
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April 7, 2017 ESPNChicago.com, Is this the year Brett Anderson puts it all together? http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/43576/is-this-the-year-brett-anderson-puts-it-all- together ESPNChicago.com, Ball sticks to Yadier Molina's chest protector, helping Cubs to big inning http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19094865/ball-sticks-chest-protector-st-louis-cardinals-catcher-yadier- molina CSNChicago.com, On The Brink Of Heartbreak, Joe Maddon Predicted To Andre Dawson The Cubs Would Win The World Series http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/brink-heartbreak-joe-maddon-predicted-andre-dawson-cubs- would-win-world-series-wrigley-field-babe-ruth CSNChicago.com, Kyle Schwarber Makes Cardinals Pay For Yadier Molina’s Hidden-Ball Trick As Cubs Win Series In St. Louis http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/kyle-schwarber-makes-cardinals-pay-yadier-molinas-hidden-ball- trick-cubs-win-series-st CSNChicago.com, Cubs-Cardinals: Joe Maddon's Had Enough Of St. Louis After 'Second Spring Training' http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-cardinals-joe-maddons-had-enough-st-louis-after-second- spring-training CSNChicago.com, Cubs Realign Rotation So Jon Lester Will Start Wrigley Opener Against Dodgers http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-realign-rotation-so-jon-lester-will-start-wrigley-opener- against-dodgers Chicago Tribune, Cubs on alert for Brewers baserunners ahead of first meeting in 2017 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-brewers-stolen-bases-20170407- story.html#nt=oft03a-1gp2 Chicago Tribune, Cubs to open first homestand with festive World Series theme http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-home-opener-banner-raising-spt-0409- 20170407-story.html Chicago Tribune, For Cubs fans, sticker shock goes with trip to Wrigley http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-cubs-costs-met-20170406-story.html Chicago Tribune, Kyle Schwarber gives Cubs lift with 3-run homer in victory over Cardinals http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-cardinals-spt-0407-20170406-story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs provide theories, amusement to Yadier Molina's sticky situation http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-yadier-molina-cubs-cardinals-notes-spt-0407- 20170406-story.html Chicago Tribune, Workout, grilled cheese sandwich conclude 'second spring training' for Joe Maddon http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-joe-maddon-second-spring-training-for-cubs- joe-maddon-20170406-story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs adjust rotation, Jon Lester to face Dodgers in home opener http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-jon-lester-dodgers-in-home-opener-20170406- story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Hector Rondon rebounds, Carl Edwards Jr. dominant in win over Cardinals http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-hector-rondon-carl-edwards-jr-20170406- story.html Chicago Tribune, The story behind the most meaningful 'W' flight in Cubs history http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-w-flag-world-series-spt-0409-20170407- story.html Chicago Sun-Times, Kyle Schwarber’s long homer picks up Ben Zobrist, calms Cubs fans http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/kyle-schwarbers-long-homer-picks-up-ben-zobrist-calms-cubs-fans/ Chicago Sun-Times, Stuck ball aids Cubs’ decisive rally against Cardinals http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/stuck-ball-aids-cubs-decisive-rally-against-cardinals/ Chicago Sun-Times, Kyle Schwarber tunes up for playoffs as Cubs beat Cards 6-4 http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/kyle-schwarber-tunes-up-for-playoffs-as-cubs-beat-cards-6-4/ Chicago Sun-Times, Trucks to be banned, traffic restricted around Wrigley Field http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/trucks-to-be-banned-traffic-restricted-around-wrigley-field/ Cubs.com, After Yadi's oddity, Schwarber delivers with HR http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/222692608/cubs-kyle-schwarber-hits-huge-3-run-home-run/ Cubs.com, Schwarber's HR picks up Lackey, wins series http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/222654054/kyle-schwarber-homers-as-cubs-beat- cardinals/?topicId=27118368 Cubs.com, Off-days allow Cubs to flip starting rotation http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/222658210/jake-arrieta-jon-lester-swap-rotation- spots/?topicId=27118368 -- ESPNChicago.com Is this the year Brett Anderson puts it all together? By Jesse Rogers MILWAUKEE -- As the son of a college coach, Brett Anderson grew up speaking the language of baseball, but knowing the game and staying on the field to play it are two different things. The Chicago Cubs' No. 5 starter has endured it all during an injury-riddled career -- from Tommy John surgery to bone fractures to back operations -- with his father there for support during every step of the bumpy ride. "I deal with this every year with my own guys and guys that are in the majors," Frank Anderson said via a phone interview earlier this week. "It hits closer to home when he's your son. You hate it for him. "With the track record that he's had -- and the crazy stuff that has happened to him -- I know he can be successful when he's healthy." This is why Friday night's outing against the Milwaukee Brewers isn't just any trip to the mound for the younger Anderson, who spent his past two seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Injuries have kept him from reaching his peak, but there's arguably no better place for him to get there than with the Cubs. "When he's been healthy, he's been a really good pitcher," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. "With our defense we're always looking for guys that can get ground balls." Why take a chance on a pitcher who has started only six, five, eight and three games in four of the past five years? Because in that other season -- 2015, his first with the Dodgers -- Anderson induced ground balls at an MLB-best 67 percent clip, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Since entering the league with the Oakland Athletics in 2009, he has the fifth-best rate of ground balls in baseball. Combine that with the Cubs' defense, and it could be a special year for him. "Keep the ball on the ground, good things will happen," Anderson said simply. "I've seen what these guys can do." The Cubs are counting on their pitching "infrastructure," as team president Theo Epstein likes to call it, to keep Anderson healthy enough to take advantage of his new surroundings. They've convinced him to open his mind to new ideas. "I think it's gone well," catching coach Mike Borzello said. "We talked a lot in spring training about what he likes to do, but I wanted to check with him on how open-minded he would be on trying some things that he hasn't necessarily done in the past." What new wrinkles can we expect? Pitching coach Chris Bosio gave an idea as it won't just be the same Anderson. "Different patterns that they were we working on," he said. "Different pitches and different patterns and different parts of the strike zone." The elder Anderson, now coaching at the University of Houston after a decade at Oklahoma State, witnessed the changes in spring training and came away excited for his son's new opportunity. He never saw Brett waver from his commitment to return from any of his injuries. Instead of running from his ailments, he's known to make light of them by tweeting about simply making it through a workout. The sarcasm and edge he displays on social media puts him in an interesting spot with his new team. Calling out Cubs fans during the National League Championship Series battle against the Dodgers probably didn't do him any favors with the crowd he's now pitching in front of in Chicago. "Right away I heard from people about that," Anderson recalled. "Maybe I can win those people back." Winning Cubs fans over isn't difficult. He just has to get outs. The Cubs think they can unlock even more from the 29-year-old left-hander. "If we give him the answers before the test maybe he'll be willing to try," Borzello said. "You try to build that trust as quickly as possible. Over time that happens, but you want it to happen yesterday." Anderson is open to it all. He knows his prep before pitching is crucial -- he has added breathing exercises, along with core work, to his daily routine. The Cubs' front office believes in the group they've assembled to keep their pitchers healthy and effective. This is why they took a chance on Anderson as the one addition to their rotation. "We know he's had health problems but it's worth it to see if he can get past that," Hoyer said. Anderson arrived as a buy-low candidate thanks to an incentive-laden contract that works well for both parties. And while the Cubs are being cautious -- manager Joe Maddon has admitted they're not expecting a full season of starts from Anderson -- they do think they can max out potential that was on display during his bullpen session in St. Louis. "Everything was moving and dancing around," Anderson said. "I'd rather control the movement than hope for the movement. That's helpful for what I do." Added Bosio: "It may have been his best session yet." When Anderson takes the mound Friday, some of his family will be in attendance, but his dad has to work -- Houston has a game Friday night, too. That doesn't mean he won't be keeping up with the action.