Cubs Daily Clips
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April 16, 2018 NBC Sports Chicago, After calling Saturday's conditions 'horrific,' Joe Maddon dubs Sunday's postponement 'the right thing to do' http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/after-calling-saturdays-conditions-horrific-joe-maddon- dubs-sundays-postponement-right-thing-do NBC Sports Chicago, Cubs expect Monday return for Anthony Rizzo http://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/cubs-expect-monday-return-anthony-rizzo Chicago Tribune, Anthony Rizzo set to return in the cold against the sizzling Cardinals http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-anthony-rizzo-return-20180415- story.html Chicago Tribune, WGN celebrates 70 years of televising Cubs baseball http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-wgn-70th-anniversary-sullivan- 20180415-story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs' weather-related decisions a complicated affair http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-rainout-decisions-sullivan- 20180415-story.html Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon cites 'remarkably bad' conditions as Cubs announce postponement of game against Braves http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-braves-postponed-20180415- story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs Q&A: Is Ian Happ's job in danger? Could Eddie Butler join the rotation? http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-ask-the-writer-20180416- story.html Chicago Sun-Times, Joe Maddon has no complaints after Braves-Cubs game postponed https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-braves-game-postponed/ Chicago Sun-Times, Joe Maddon expects Anthony Rizzo to start for Cubs on Monday against Cardinals https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/joe-maddon-expects-anthony-rizzo-to-start-against-cardinals- monday/ Daily Herald, Cubs' Maddon pleased with postponing game after Saturday's struggles http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20180415/cubs-maddon-pleased-with-postponing-game-after- saturdays-struggles Daily Herald, Scouting report: Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20180415/scouting-report-chicago-cubs-vs-st-louis-cardinals The Athletic, Clubhouse Access: Looking at a boom-or-bust offense, revisiting the prospect who could haunt the Cubs and the Danny Hultzen lottery ticket https://theathletic.com/315373/2018/04/15/clubhouse-access-looking-at-a-boom-or-bust-offense- revisiting-the-prospect-who-could-haunt-the-cubs-and-the-danny-hultzen-lottery-ticket/ Cubs.com, Cubs, Cardinals ready to renew rivalry https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-cardinals-renew-rivalry-monday-night/c-272326642 Cubs.com, Finale with Braves PPD; makeup on May 14 https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-braves-rained-out-will-be-made-up-may-14/c-272310760 Cubs.com, Cubs, Braves to honor Jackie at May 14 game https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/cubs-braves-will-honor-jackie-robinson-may-14/c-272315124 ESPNChicago.com, Javier Baez isn't changing -- no matter what anyone thinks http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/46653/javier-baez-isnt-changing-no-matter- what-anyone-thinks -- NBC Sports Chicago After calling Saturday's conditions 'horrific,' Joe Maddon dubs Sunday's postponement 'the right thing to do' By Vinnie Duber Joe Maddon wasn’t a fan of Saturday’s weather conditions at the Friendly Confines. No one was. So when the weather was doing similar stuff Sunday, it was more relief than disappointment when the decision was made to postpone the series finale with the Atlanta Braves. “It’s just the right thing to do,” Maddon said. “It’s not just about getting the games in, you want to be able to play the games on a major league caliber, championship-caliber level. “Yesterday’s game, we were fortunate that it was played in its entirety because that’s why we won that game, based on how badly the conditions were by the end of the game. We’ll take it, but I’m glad the decision was made this way today. Even if it’s not actually physically raining, there’s a lot of other, different reasons that make a game unplayable, and yesterday’s a perfect example.” Saturday’s weather was downright miserable: freezing-cold temperatures featuring a 25-degree wind chill, rain that was moving sideways across Wrigley Field and howling winds that had the flags looking ready to fly right off their poles. But the day also provided one of the more memorable regular-season games in a long time as the Cubs erased an eight-run deficit and scored nine runs in a crazy eighth inning. But as Maddon indicated, that wild comeback was made possible thanks to the awful conditions. Braves pitchers couldn’t get a grip on the ball and issued five walks, hit two batters and threw a wild pitch all in that one inning. There was also a throwing error by the catcher that allowed a run to score, that coming four innings after Javy Baez and Addison Russell made a pair of throwing errors of their own within a span of three batters. Ozzie Albies, the Braves’ second baseman who wowed all series long, had a throw go comically sideways at one point. Maddon, who went as far as saying that Saturday’s game shouldn’t have been played, chalked all those mistakes up to the weather. “When there’s a second baseman like that, who’s All-Star caliber, makes a throw like that at the pitcher, that speaks volumes,” Maddon said. “The (wild) pitch that was really beneficial to us, was literally five feet outside because he couldn’t grip the baseball. “When you start seeing pitchers missing by that much and really good infielders — like Javy’s throw to first base, another perfect example. That routine ground ball to second that he misses (Ben Zobrist) way to the inside. And then we come right back with the chopper to Addy in the hole that he throws an absolute sinker because the ball’s probably wet. “All those things are pretty much indicators to me. I don’t think it’s rocket science, it’s pretty common knowledge.” So what’s the solution? This April has been a particularly bad one, but cold temperatures, lots of rain and whipping winds are hardly springtime rarities in Chicago and across the Midwest. Maddon might have a few tweaks he’d make to the weather section of the baseball rulebook, but he understands that the schedule-makers have a tough job to do. “I don’t think it should always be based on precipitation, and I think it always is,” Maddon said. “There’s times when the game is unplayable based on wind and cold or maybe just a damp field, the field might be wet from previous rain. I’ve always thought there should be an actual number, a temperature that if it gets below that number, that’s good enough for me. “The game wasn’t meant to be played in these methods. There’s so many games to stuff into the regular season, and I get it. And there’s always concerns about making things up based on travel, and I get it. However, that doesn’t mean you should play a game that’s unplayable.” As for the rescheduling, the Cubs and Braves will make this one up on Monday, May 14, a 1:20 p.m. start at Wrigley Field. That’s the day after the Cubs host the White Sox for a three-game weekend series. More interestingly, it’s the day before the Cubs start a three-game series with, who else, the Braves in Atlanta. So they’ll play one game on the North Side, then fly to the Peach State for three more. -- NBC Sports Chicago Cubs expect Monday return for Anthony Rizzo By Vinnie Duber Anthony Rizzo is expected to return from the disabled list Monday. Cubs manager Joe Maddon indicated as much in previous days, describing Rizzo as on track to come back "on time," which meant Monday, the first day Rizzo is eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list. It's possible it will be an easing in for Rizzo, who hasn't played since April 5 while he's been shelved with a back issue. It's a strategy Maddon implemented with Albert Almora Jr. during Saturday's game. Almora was scratched from Friday's game with an illness, then was a late addition on Saturday. He hit a first- inning home run, but he came out after a few innings. "If (Rizzo is) ready to roll, we’ll probably play him, I would imagine, but keep an eye on him," Maddon said Sunday. "He’s been off for a little bit. Like yesterday, taking Albert out of that game was based purely on him being ill and the score being so lopsided. I would’ve left him out there, of course I would have. "Anthony coming back, about the fifth inning, ‘Anthony, how you doing?’ Does he need to be brought back into it slowly? I’m not sure. So we’ll play that one by ear." The Cubs are slated to begin this season's first series against the rival St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night, and they could sure use a bat like Rizzo's back in the lineup. A 14-run day Saturday helped boost some of their numbers, but they still woke up Sunday ranked 14th in the league in batting average (.238), 12th in OPS (.742), 11th in hits (122) and 15th in home runs (15). Rizzo's numbers weren't great in the very limited number of games he played before going on the DL, and he'll come back with a .107/.219/.214 slash line.