March 8, 2017 Cubs.com, Lackey glad to get into game routine vs. Italy http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/218378020/john-lackey-makes-1st-spring-start-vs-italy/ Cubs.com, Uehara's goal: Pitch 10 years in Majors http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/218346138/koji-uehara-wants-to-pitch-2-more-years-in-mlb/ Cubs.com, Cubs name 20 fans to present World Series rings http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/218331878/cubs-name-world-series-ring-bearer-fan-winners/ Cubs.com, Maddon sees no better time for Classic http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/218359098/joe-maddon-wbc-timing-as-good-as-it-can-be/ Cubs.com, Andreoli has fun playing for Italy in win vs. Cubs http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/218400446/rob-segedin-homers-as-italy-beats-cubs/ ESPNChicago.com, Cub problems? Talented roster blocks road for Chicago's prospects http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/43417/cub-problems-talented-roster-blocks-road-for- chicagos-prospects CSNChicago.com, John Lackey Analyzes His First Spring Start In Typical John Lackey Fashion http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/john-lackey-analyzes-his-first-spring-start-typical-john-lackey- fashion CSNChicago.com, Can The World Baseball Classic Improve? Joe Maddon Isn't Sure That's Possible http://www.csnchicago.com/how-to-improve-world-baseball-classic-joe-maddon-ideas-cubs-worldwide- appeal-kris-bryant-anthony-rizzo Chicago Tribune, John Lackey focused on preparation, not numbers, for 15th big-league season http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-john-lackey-world-series-rings-spt-0308-20170307- story.html Chicago Tribune, For World Series ring bearers, being a Cubs fan is only part of the story http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-world-series-ring-bearers-20170307-story.html Chicago Tribune, Carl Edwards Jr. hopes to move closer to being the closer http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-carl-edwards-jr-cubs-closer-20170308-story.html Chicago Tribune, Soon to be 42, Cubs reliever Koji Uehara says he has 2 years left in him http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-koji-uehara-two-more-years-spt-0308-20170307- story.html Chicago Sun-Times, After 2 years of rehab and TLC, Cubs to ‘unleash’ 100-mph Cease http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/after-2-years-of-rehab-and-tlc-cubs-to-unleash-100-mph-cease/ Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs lose exhibition to Italy’s WBC team on 9th-inning homer http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-lose-exhibition-to-italys-wbc-team-on-9th-inning-homer/ Chicago Sun-Times, Rings are ‘awesome,’ but for Lackey it’s hard to top those boots http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/rings-are-awesome-but-for-lackey-its-hard-to-top-those-boots/ Chicago Sun-Times, Spring cleaning: Cubs cut six pitchers from big-league camp http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/spring-cleaning-cubs-cut-six-pitchers-from-big-league-camp/ Daily Herald, Consistent Rizzo leads way for Chicago Cubs http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170307/sports/170309104/ -- Cubs.com Lackey glad to get into game routine vs. Italy By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- It didn't matter to Cubs pitcher John Lackey that he was facing Team Italy. "It's Spring Training," Lackey said after his first spring outing in Tuesday's 8-7 Cubs loss to Italy's World Baseball Classic team. "I kind of have a routine of what I do the first start, second start. The last two starts before the season, I'll pitch with everything and go get 'em." Lackey gave up one hit over two innings against Team Italy, a two-out single to Alex Liddi in the second. The Cubs right-hander finished his outing by striking out Gavin Cecchini. "It's a good one to keep moving forward on," Lackey said. He didn't know how many pitches he threw, but Lackey guessed the total included one breaking ball. He didn't bother to look at the radar gun readings posted on the scoreboard. "I don't look at the gun in June," Lackey said. At 38, this will be Lackey's 15th season. He likes pitching in games. It's those days in between that are tough. "Definitely, the stuff in between starts gets hard the older you get," Lackey said. "When you're out on the field competing, that's still a lot of fun. The other stuff gets a little tougher the older you get. It's necessary for you to compete at a high level." Lackey was looking forward to adding another World Series ring to his collection. He's already got two, winning with the Angels in 2002 and again with the Red Sox in 2013. However, when asked where he kept his jewelry, Lackey said they were in a box somewhere in his closet. At least he thought that's where they were. "I've got a rubber wedding band, for goodness sakes," Lackey said. "I'm not a huge flashy kind of guy. It's going to be awesome to have, for sure. If I go to a wedding and have to wear a tux, I'll wear one of them, that's about it." He did order a pair of custom World Series champion boots Tuesday. Lackey will wear those. "One hundred percent," he said. "Those will get sported around, for sure." -- Cubs.com Uehara's goal: Pitch 10 years in Majors By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- Taped to the top of Koji Uehara's locker are two pages with headshots of the Cubs players and coaching staff. "I'm a rookie," Uehara said, laughing at his way of trying to learn his new teammates. The right-hander actually isn't a rookie, but entering his ninth season in the Major Leagues after pitching 10 years in Japan. Asked how much longer he wants to pitch, Uehara, 41, didn't need his interpreter C.J. Matsumoto. "Two more years," Uehara said in English. So, he's announcing his retirement now? "With me, it's more that I pitched 10 years in Japan, so to pitch 10 years here is my goal," he said. The Cubs are happy to have his experience. He signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Cubs, deciding to reunite with his former Red Sox general manager, Theo Epstein, who is now president of baseball operations in Chicago. "The main reason I chose this team was because I thought this team had the best chance to win it all," Uehara said. Several teams were interested in him, Uehara said. "He knows what he's doing," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of the right-hander, who won a World Series with the Red Sox in 2013. "He hasn't been a real hard thrower throughout his career, so it's not like he's lost any velocity. His split is really a good pitch. He's very good against lefties." Uehara does know a few of the Cubs players, and his son Kazuma is good friends with Cubs pitcher Jon Lester's son, Hudson. Lester knows to steer clear of Uehara after his outings in the dugout. The right-hander likes to give everyone in the dugout aggressive high-fives when he's done. Uehara is pacing himself in Spring Training. "I'm going to try to destroy them all during the regular season," Uehara said. "I can't be like that first time out." -- Cubs.com Cubs name 20 fans to present World Series rings By Carrie Muskat MESA, Ariz. -- The list includes a 90-year-old man from Kewanee, Ill., and a 13-year-old girl from Peru, Ill. There's a young woman with spina bifida who plays baseball for her Miracle League Cubs team, two teachers with Cubs- themed classrooms, a grandfather who saved a 1984 bottle of champagne for his championship toast and a father whose four kids have Cubs-themed names. They are among the winners of the Cubs' championship ring bearer fan contest. Twenty fans will have the opportunity to present Cubs players and coaches their 2016 World Series rings on the field on April 12 at Wrigley Field. The winners were selected from more than 1,500 video nominations on Twitter using the #CubsRingBearer hashtag, which was shared more than 10,000 times overall. These fans were nominated by family members, co- workers and friends, and selected based on their passion, loyalty and creativity. The list also includes a woman who overcame cerebral palsy to support her team in person, and a veteran, cancer survivor and longtime bleacher season-ticket holder who saved the newspaper from Ernie Banks' debut to eventually have it signed by Mr. Cub himself. The presenters will wear unique jerseys and hats to match the players' uniforms that day and will be among the first fans to get a look at the Cubs World Series rings, designed by Jostens. "The greatest journey in sports history was backed by the greatest fans in all of sports, and we're thrilled to reward 20 deserving people from that passionate group with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Cubs president of business operations Crane Kenney. "It will be rewarding to see our World Series rings presented to players and coaches by such an impressive group of fans." Here is the list of championship ring bearers with their ages and hometowns. More information on each winner can be found at www.cubs.com/cubsringbearer. Jeff Birtell, 58, DeKalb, Ill. Grace Davis, 20, Jefferson City, Mo. Alex Dorn, 29, Chicago Paul "Crawly" Dzien, 40, Bartlett, Ill.