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Home , Brandon Hyde, Justin Grimm, Kyle Hendricks, Len Kasper, Players Weekend, Willson Contreras

August 10, 2017

 Cubs.com, Contreras injures hamstring, DL stint likely http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/247433792/cubs-willson-contreras-likely-bound-for-dl/

 Cubs.com, Cubs to embrace fun during Players Weekend http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/247276470/cubs-to-celebrate-players-weekend/

 Cubs.com, Almora homers, but Cubs edged by Giants http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/247387822/madison-bumgarner-pitches-giants-over-cubs/

 Cubs.com, Cubs put Uehara on DL, call up Grimm http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/247389784/cubs-koji-uehara-to-dl-justin-grimm-called-up/

 Cubs.com, Lackey set for Cubs' rematch vs. Goldy http://atmlb.com/2usHyEs

 ESPNChicago.com, Cubs face their biggest test yet without http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/45330/cubs-face-their-biggest-test-yet-without-willson- contreras

 ESPNChicago.com, Cubs' Willson Contreras set for MRI after injuring hamstring while running out ground ball http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20296297/willson-contreras-chicago-cubs-suffers-injury-running- ground-ball

 CSNChicago.com, Nightmare scenario for Cubs: Willson Contreras expected to hit DL with hamstring injury http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/nightmare-scenario-cubs-willson-contreras-expected-hit-dl- hamstring-injury

 CSNChicago.com, Why is still harping on bad defense and waiting for Cubs to play with more focus? http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/why-joe-maddon-still-harping-bad-defense-and-waiting-cubs-play- more-focus

 CSNChicago.com, Cubs bullpen takes a hit with Koji Uehara going on the DL http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-bullpen-takes-hit-koji-uehara-going-dl-maddon-justin-grimm

 Chicago Tribune, Cubs face somber scenarios after Willson Contreras' hamstring injury http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-willson-contreras-injury-cubs-spt-0810-20170809- story.html#nt=oft03a-1gp2

 Chicago Tribune, Cubs Alex Avila says he's ready for additional workload http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-alex-avila-ready-cubs-notes-spt-0810-20170809- story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Cubs place Koji Uehara on 10-day DL with neck strain http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-koji-uehara-20170809-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Giants take series from Cubs, who have now lost 6 of their last 8 games http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-giants-spt-0810-20170809-story.html

 Chicago Tribune, Ridiculous to criticize Joe Maddon for his Hazleton comments http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-joe-maddon-hazleton-cubs-haugh-20170809- column.html

 Chicago Tribune, Cubs set playoff ticket prices for season-ticket holders http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-playoff-ticket-prices-cubs-20170809-story.html

 Chicago Sun-Times, New Cub Alex Avila steps into big role after Willson Contreras’ injury http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/new-cub-alex-avila-steps-into-big-role-after-willson-contreras-injury/

 Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs brace for worst after Willson Contreras suffers hamstring injury http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-catcher-willson-contreras-injures-hamstring-in-san-francisco/

 Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs put Koji Uehara on DL, recall http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-put-koji-uehara-on-dl-recall-justin-grimm/

 Daily Herald, Imrem: Signs not looking good for http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170809/imrem-signs-not-looking-good-for-chicago-cubs

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Cubs.com Contreras injures hamstring, DL stint likely By Jonathan Hawthorne

SAN FRANCISCO -- Willson Contreras, the face of the Cubs' offensive resurgence of late, is likely headed to the disabled list after injuring himself Wednesday while running out an inning-ending groundout. The Cubs lost the game, 3-1, and the series to the Giants.

Contreras will travel with the team to Arizona and undergo an MRI exam on Thursday. The team expects to release the results Friday before the Cubs face the D-backs.

The Cubs will likely recall Victor Caratini trom Triple-A Iowa as a backup catcher. He went 2-for-3 with two doubles on Wednesday.

Contreras -- the newly minted Player of the Week -- was moving down the line normally after lining a routine grounder when he pulled up shy of first base, grabbing his right hamstring. He continued to limp down the line, hopping on his left foot before falling down to the grass. He was later helped off the field by team trainers.

"That's no fun," said Cubs Joe Maddon. "Having been an expert in pulling hamstrings -- which it appeared to have been -- it's no fun. It's hurts. Everything you do, it grabs. But who knows? Maybe it's not going to be as bad as we think. We'll find out tomorrow."

Anthony Rizzo, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth, took over first-base duties in the bottom of the frame.

"It's tough," Rizzo said. "Obviously, he's producing very good for us. He's turned into a horse, and we just have to step up and pick him up."

Rizzo said he talked with his teammate after the game. Rizzo reported that Contreras was in good spirits.

"He said he's had worse than this before," Rizzo said. "Injuries like that -- when you see someone grab like that -- it's not very good. But you never know."

Maddon indicated that an injury to a surging player like Contreras could galvanize the team.

"They know that he's not here right now," Maddon said. "They know how important he's been to us. And now other guys realize, 'Hey. Let's go. We have to pick up the slack that has been created.' I've seen it before."

The injury came at the height of Contreras' surge at the plate. He tallied his third career multi-homer game on Sunday and entered Wednesday with five blasts in his previous six games. Contreras, who normally plays behind the plate, leads all in the Majors will 70 RBIs and a .519 slugging percentage. He's tied for first with 21 homers.

Chicago will rely on catcher Alex Avila, whom the team acquired from the Tigers before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, with Contreras sidelined. Maddon said he's been impressed with the 30-year-old in a limited sample size.

"I've liked what Alex has done so far, I really have," Maddon said. "Watching him and watching his method, he's actually thrown the ball really well, too. There's a lot to like there."

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Cubs.com Cubs to embrace fun during Players Weekend By Jonathan Hawthorne

SAN FRANCISCO -- Later this month, during the inaugural Players Weekend, will be reminded of his early days on a baseball diamond.

"It'll bring it back to being that kid again when you're out there on the field," Schwarber said of the Aug. 25-27 weekend. "Just going out there to play the game and have fun. It's a reminder of bringing it back to dreaming and aspiring for the Majors."

MLB and the Players Association on Wednesday unveiled their plans for the weekend, which will feature colorful, non-traditional uniforms with alternate designs. Players will have personalized nicknames in place of their last names. The everyday spikes, batting gloves, wristbands, catchers' gear and bats will also get a unique branding.

After the weekend, game-worn Players Weekend jerseys will be auctioned at MLB.com/auctions with 100 percent of the net proceeds donated to the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation. The initiative was established in July 2015 with a $30 million commitment to improving the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs in the United States and Canada.

"I think it's just good for the game," third baseman said. "I think to have those crazy colors -- with the rules a little more loose -- makes it more fun and gets people involved."

Players will also have a special patch on their sleeves that depicts the process of a child evolving to a Major Leaguer. Under the logo is a white space where every player will inscribe the name of a person whom they are grateful to for helping them advance their careers.

For Bryant and Schwarber, that call was easy. Both will write: "Mom and Dad." The two figure that will be a pretty common selection across the Majors.

"My parents had a big influence on me when I was a kid," Schwarber said. "They did everything possible for me to have a successful baseball career. ... They deserve all the credit for where I'm at."

And neither Bryant nor Schwarber had to think too hard about which nickname to use. Bryant will opt for "KB" while Schwarber will use "Schwarbs."

"It gets the fans involved, too, because they just see us sometimes as players," Bryant said. "Now they can get a look into what we call each other. It's going to be cool."

Both are excited to see what their teammates pick -- not to mention other players in the Majors.

"It's just a nice weekend for us to kind of choose what we want to do," Bryant said. "I think that's great. I'll be looking forward to learning a few nicknames along the way."

A preview of the promotion will take place Sunday, Aug. 20, when the Pirates and Cardinals don alternate uniforms for the first MLB Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pa. The Cubs will get their turn the following weekend in Philadelphia, where they'll face the Phillies in a three-game series.

Here's a list of nicknames that some Cubs are expected to sport on the back of their jerseys on Players Weekend:

• Kris Bryant: "KB" • : "TONY" • : "SNAKE" • : "ZORILLA" • Kyle Schwarber: "SCHWARBS" • Willson Contreras: "WILLY" • : "J-HEY" • Javier Baez: "EL MAGO" • Wade Davis: "WADER" • : "HENDO"

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Cubs.com Almora homers, but Cubs edged by Giants By Chris Haft and Jonathan Hawthorne

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants continued to regain a semblance of respectability on Wednesday, as Jarrett Parker's seventh-inning tiebreaking single lifted them to a 3-1 victory -- and much more -- over the Cubs.

The Giants, who have owned one of the Major Leagues' worst records for most of the season, recorded their second winning homestand of the season (5-3) and won back-to-back home series for the first time since May. With the score tied, 1-1, Denard Span and Ryder Jones delivered seventh-inning singles off Brian Duensing before Parker, whose 10th-inning hit defeated Arizona on Sunday, drove his go-ahead single to left.

"We feel we're paying attention to controlling what we can control, and that's us playing good baseball and making the necessary adjustments to getting back to playing at the caliber we should play at," said Hunter Pence, who added an eighth-inning .

Chicago leads the by 1 1/2 games over the Brewers and Cardinals.

Madison "Mad-Bum" Bumgarner, who will wear that nickname on his jersey during Players Weekend Aug. 25-27, earned the decision by working seven innings and allowing five hits, as well as Chicago's lone run on an Jr. home run. Sam Dyson notched his eighth save in place of injured closer Mark Melancon.

"I'm just going to say it as simple as it is: We have to try to win the game we have that day. There's no other way around it," Bumgarner said. "There's no way to make it sound sexy or anything like that. That's it. It doesn't matter whether it's against the Dodgers, Astros, Cubs, whoever."

Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks labored through 4 2/3 innings but allowed only one run, on Joe Panik's second-inning single.

"I kind of relied too much on my curveball-changeup," Hendricks said. "Got me in some deep counts. Pitch count got way up. Just a lot of things I didn't want to do -- some bad walks."

Cubs Willson Contreras left with a right hamstring injury in the eighth inning. The newly minted NL Player of the Week pulled up shy of first base grabbing his hamstring while running out his inning-ending groundout. After laying on the grass for several moments, he was helped off the field by team trainers.

"It's tough," Cubs standout Anthony Rizzo said. "Obviously he's producing very good for us. He's one of our horses. He's turned into a horse and we just have to step up and pick him up."

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Contreras is definitely a "DL candidate." Contreras will travel with the team to Arizona and undergo an MRI exam on Thursday.

"That's no fun," Maddon said. "Having been an expert in pulling hamstrings, which it appeared to have been, it's no fun. It's hurts. Everything you do, it grabs. But who knows? Maybe it's not going to be as bad as we think. We'll find out tomorrow."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Slick Sandoval: Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval turned in a deft defensive play when he went to his knees to snare Ben Zobrist's fifth-inning hot shot and throw to first base from that same position. Jones completed the out with a nice short-hop scoop.

"It was a tough play," Sandoval said, "but I've worked hard every day to make that play."

Happ's miscue: Cubs second baseman opened the door for the go-ahead Giants run in the seventh with a one-out misplay. Span came to the plate with the bases empty and got aboard when Happ just missed the ball while moving toward his left in shallow right field. The Cubs used the shift against Span, but he reached easily when Happ couldn't fire a throw to first. Span later came around to score on Jarrett's single, giving the Giants a 2-1 lead.

QUOTABLE

"Something like this -- for as bad as it seems on the surface -- could actually galvanize the group. They know that he's not here right now. They know how important he's been to us. And now other guys realize, 'Hey. Let's go. We have to pick up the slack that has been created.' I've seen it before." -- Maddon, on Contreras' injury

WHAT'S NEXT

Cubs: After an off-day on Thursday, the Cubs open a three-game set in Arizona against the D-backs in a 8:40 p.m. CT contest on Friday. , who's posted a 3.00 ERA in four starts since the All-Star break, gets the ball for the Cubs, who lost two of three against the D-backs earlier this month.

Giants: San Francisco will observe a scheduled day off before opening a three-game series at Washington on Friday at 4:05 p.m. PT. Rookie Chris Stratton will start for the Giants, who will attempt to reverse their luck against the Nationals after Washington swept them in a three-game series at AT&T Park from May 29-31.

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Cubs.com Cubs put Uehara on DL, call up Grimm By Jonathan Hawthorne

SAN FRANCISCO -- A day after Cubs reliever Koji Uehara exited the seventh inning early with an injury, the right- hander was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strain on the right side of his neck.

In a corresponding roster move, the Cubs recalled right-handed reliever Justin Grimm from Triple-A Iowa. Grimm is making his fourth appearance this season on the 25-man roster.

"We just wanted to make sure that we calm it down," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He's so important to us moving forward, getting him right in the latter part of the season. … Looking to play in September and October, we want him to be well."

Maddon said he saw something was off with Uehara from the moment he took the mound Tuesday.

"When he walked that hitter so easily on pitches that were so far out of the strike zone, I knew," Maddon said. "From the first pitch, I knew. Hopefully he takes a couple days off and he comes back and then feels good the rest of the way."

Grimm -- who was in San Francisco for the Cubs' series finale against the Giants on Wednesday -- has appeared in 36 games with the Cubs this season, going 1-1 with a 5.18 ERA. Uehara owns a 3.55 ERA this season in 43 relief outings.

Moving forward, Maddon said he won't necessarily lean on reliever Carl Edwards Jr. more -- the right-hander had a string of rough outings before turning it around on Tuesday. And Maddon indicated that Uehara's injury doesn't appear to be "anything spectacular in a bad way."

Uehara's injury is the latest development for a Cubs bullpen that has struggled recently. But overall, the Cubs stack up well against the National League; Chicago entered Wednesday tied for second in the NL with a 3.46 relief ERA.

"Like everything else we do, you do expect the hiccup, the bump in the road," Maddon said. "They're not going to be perfect all the time. A lot of times, it is kind of cyclical where the whole group is impacted or not. I feel good about it. I don't think anybody is overworked."

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Cubs.com Lackey set for Cubs' rematch vs. Goldy By Jonathan Hawthorne

The Cubs don't have to wait too long to get another shot at the D-backs. Starting Friday, Arizona hosts the Cubs for a three-game set at Chase Field.

Earlier this month at , Arizona took two of three from Chicago, capped by Paul Goldschmidt's three- homer day in the final game.

The Cubs will send right-hander John Lackey to the bump. He's done well since the All-Star break, posting a 3.00 ERA and a 4-0 record. Similarly, Lackey is 4-0 with a 2.76 ERA in five career starts against the D-backs. Arizona hasn't yet named a starter for Friday or Saturday, with Robbie Ray still working his way back from the disabled list.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon on Wednesday praised Goldschmidt's efforts in the series earlier this month. Asked what he learned, Maddon said: "Be careful with Goldschmidt."

"I've seen it before, when he's hot, he's so different," Maddon said. "He's one of those guys with power who has a discerning eye at the plate. He doesn't expand the strike zone and doesn't miss his pitch."

Goldschmidt tallied seven RBIs during last week's series, with a .455/.538/1.273 slash line.

Things to know about this game

• Lackey has recorded 85.9 percent of his outs with either his cutter, four-seamer or two-seamer this season, including 96.8 percent since the All-Star break. That gives him the highest percentage of outs coming on fastballs among with at least 50 outs in the second half.

• Maddon called Goldschmidt "a separator," adding, "I think overall, we did OK against their pitching" in last week's series.

• In the finale between the D-backs and Cubs on Aug. 3, Goldschmidt and Willson Contreras each had six RBIs. It marked the first game since the RBI became an official stat in 1920 that each team's cleanup hitter drove in six or more runs in the same game, per Elias.

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ESPNChicago.com Cubs face their biggest test yet without Willson Contreras By Jesse Rogers

SAN FRANCISCO -- It's the proverbial gut check time for the Chicago Cubs as they'll likely be without their emerging star catcher for a while. Willson Contreras will have an MRI on his right hamstring on Thursday, but no one who saw him come up lame running to first base on Wednesday afternoon believes it's a one- or two-day thing.

It's not hard to understand how big of a loss this could be for the Cubs, who find themselves in a four-team race for the division title. Contreras has been Chicago's MVP of late.

"Any kind of offensive resurgence we've had has primarily been centered around him and his contributions," manager Joe Maddon said after the injury. "As bad as it seems on the surface, it could galvanize the group. They know that he's not here, and now other guys realize, 'Let's go, we have to pick up the slack.'"

By that logic, the Cubs are two injuries away from winning it all again. But Maddon's sentiment is still right on the money. It's time for the club's offense to be dangerous again ... not just at the top of the lineup, but throughout. It might help if their defense could play a bit better, too. Shortstop is sidelined with a foot injury, so the Cubs have some holes up the middle. It means Javier Baez, Ben Zobrist and Ian Happ need to do their part -- on both sides of the ball.

"We have not played with the same kind of efficiency that we had been playing with coming out of the break," Maddon said. "We have to push ourselves mentally, more than anything, to get over the hump."

Now more than ever the Cubs need to push because their schedule is about to get a lot lighter. They easily overcame a yearlong injury to Kyle Schwarber last season, and that wherewithal will be needed again, as Contreras was turning into the heart and soul of the team. Now he'll most likely be a cheerleader from the dugout for a few weeks -- leaving a void to be filled on the field.

"He's been very productive the last couple of months and a huge part of our order," backup catcher Alex Avila said. "We have to pick up the slack."

All of a sudden, the move to pick up Avila at the trade deadline -- instead of just a warm body like A.J. Ellis -- is looking better and better for the Cubs' front office. Avila had an .869 OPS before the deal, and he has thrown out 31 percent of would-be base stealers. That's a higher percentage than Contreras.

"The biggest thing with Alex is Jonny Lester," Maddon said. "The involvement with a new catcher with Jon. I have a lot of faith [in him.] There's a lot to like."

Avila added: "I've caught most of the guys already. It usually doesn't take me too long to feel pretty comfortable with a back there."

A quick learning curve for Avila, better infield defense up the middle, and a more diversified offense should be the Cubs' wish list right now after their series loss in San Francisco. Is that too much to ask for a team that's rarely played all facets of the game in a positive manner this season? We're about to find out. The loss of Contreras will test the defending champions in a big way. Unlike with earlier injuries, they'll have less time to overcome this injury and less margin for error.

"We have to keep playing baseball," Anthony Rizzo said. "It's upsetting for him and for us too."

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ESPNChicago.com Cubs' Willson Contreras set for MRI after injuring hamstring while running out ground ball By Jesse Rogers

SAN FRANCISCO -- Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras will have an MRI on his right hamstring Thursday after the team arrives in Phoenix for a weekend series.

Contreras, 25, was injured running out a ground ball in the eighth inning of Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the , creating a huge void in the middle of the Cubs' lineup as well as behind the plate. He was the hottest offensive player on the team when he went down.

"That's no fun," manager Joe Maddon said after the game. "Having been an expert in pulling hamstrings, it's no fun. It hurts. Everything you do, it grabs. Who knows? Maybe it's not going to be as bad as we think."

Contreras laid on the outfield grass for a few moments before slowly limping off the field with help from the Cubs' training staff. He was hitting .274 with 21 home runs and 70 RBIs before going down. He has done most of his damage in the past six weeks, with a 1.089 OPS since July 1.

"It's one of our horses," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "We'll just have to step up and pick him up ... It's upsetting for him and for us, too. We just have to keep playing baseball."

The Cubs expect at least a 10-day disabled list stint for Contreras, meaning newly acquired backstop Alex Avila will be thrust into the spotlight. Chicago was smart in acquiring a starting catcher instead of just a body at the trade deadline, as Avila came in to fill the hole left by 's departure. Now he's a starter again.

"I've caught most of the guys already," Avila said. "It usually doesn't take me too long to feel pretty comfortable with a pitcher back there."

Avila was behind the plate on Wednesday in the Cubs' loss to the Giants.

The timing of Contreras' injury could only be worse if it came in September or October. Chicago is in a dogfight in the NL Central and just lost two of three to a last-place team. Now, the Cubs travel to Phoenix to take on one of the best home teams in baseball, the .

Maddon is hoping for the best after his team dropped its third consecutive series and has now lost its most valuable player this season.

"As bad as it seems on the surface, it could galvanize the group," he said. "They know that he's not here and now other guys realize, 'Let's go, we have to pick up the slack.'"

The one other hopeful thought came from Contreras via Rizzo.

"He's in good spirits," Rizzo said. "He said he's had it worse than this before."

The Cubs are already playing without starting shortstop Addison Russell (foot) and will call up Victor Caratini to take Contreras' spot on the roster, assuming he goes on the disabled list. The team has the day off on Thursday.

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CSNChicago.com Nightmare scenario for Cubs: Willson Contreras expected to hit DL with hamstring injury By Patrick Mooney

SAN FRANCISCO – A nightmare scenario for the Cubs unfolded on Wednesday afternoon at AT&T Park, Willson Contreras grabbing his right leg as he ran out a groundball, hopping past first base and collapsing onto the outfield grass.

The breakout star of this underachieving Cubs season used assistant athletic trainer Ed Halbur and first base for support as he limped off the field in the eighth inning of a 3-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants.

Contreras will travel with the Cubs to Arizona, get an MRI on his hamstring during Thursday’s off-day and have access to all the team’s medical resources at the Mesa complex.

But the Cubs are anticipating Contreras will be forced onto the disabled list, preparing for life without the dynamic personality who barged into the National League MVP discussion with his red-hot performance since the All-Star break (10 homers, 1.080 OPS).

“He’s been carrying us, really, the last couple weeks,” pitcher Kyle Hendricks said. “Definitely a blow. You just feel bad for him – a guy that works that hard, does everything the right way. To have something like that happen, it just sucks.”

Contreras had been the most dangerous hitter in a lineup with too many soft spots, the rocket arm to cover for his pitchers and stop the opponent’s running game and the chest-pounding presence for a team that has looked too lifeless at times.

“He’s turned into a horse,” first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “We just have to step up and pick him up now. He’ll bust his tail to get back when he’s healthy. Hopefully, it’s not that bad. But what can you do?”

Rizzo spoke with Contreras – who got shut down with a hamstring injury during the Arizona Fall League in 2015 – and heard the same young, upbeat catcher who plays with so much energy.

“He’s in good sprits,” Rizzo said. “He said he’s had it worse than this before, so it’ll be fine. Injuries like that – when you see someone grab like that – it’s not very good. But you never know.”

It’s impossible to replace a 21-homer, 70-RBI force – with the ability to handle one of the game’s most demanding positions – overnight. But the Cubs took out an insurance policy when they acquired Alex Avila – a former All-Star who caught Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer in pennant races with the – before the July 31 trade deadline.

Victor Caratini – who briefly auditioned for the backup role this summer after Miguel Montero talked his way out of the clubhouse and the country () – is expected to be summoned from Triple-A Iowa and at Chase Field on Friday when the Cubs open a three-game series against the Diamondbacks.

This comes at a time when the Cubs (59-54) have lost three series in a row and are locked in a tight National League Central race where less than four games separate four teams. We’re about to find out what the defending champs are made of.

“There’s nothing to hang our heads over,” Avila said. “We’re in first place. There’s no reason to be upset. Just keep grinding away and keep playing hard. We’re in a great position. That’s the bottom line.”

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CSNChicago.com Why is Joe Maddon still harping on bad defense and waiting for Cubs to play with more focus? By Patrick Mooney

SAN FRANCISCO – There is no way around this: The Cubs can’t expect to beat a in the playoffs – and the type of team the San Francisco Giants used to be – without sharpening their entire game.

That is assuming the Cubs regroup and outlast a mediocre division after heart-and-soul catcher Willson Contreras suffered what could be a devastating hamstring injury during Wednesday’s 3-1 loss at AT&T Park. The Cubs already had trouble seeing the finish line in Addison Russell’s recovery from a strained right foot and don’t expect their All- Star shortstop to be ready to return when he’s eligible to come off the disabled list this weekend.

But injuries alone can’t explain away why the Cubs haven’t looked locked in defensively. It’s been the point of emphasis. Joe Maddon’s research into year-after effects led him to the and how ’s teams dropped from 116 wins in 2001 to 93 the next season and regressed on defense.

Whether or not this told the entire story about the Mariners, it sounded good and made sense to Maddon, who unveiled his slogan at Cubs Convention in January: “If we catch the ball and pitch the ball like we did last year, we shall ‘D-peat.’”

Right on cue in , the “D-peat” T-shirts rolled off the assembly line and into the clubhouse. Now it’s the middle of August and a manager who rarely criticizes his players is still harping on defense and frustrated with the sloppy errors and mental lapses.

“I don’t know why,” Maddon said. “The work’s the same. The guys are the same. To me, defense is a lot of just being here, being present tense, being right in this moment.

“Not letting previous at-bats or moments creep into the thought process. So maybe in some awkward way, maybe our focus just isn’t as finely tuned on defense. There’s no way for me to gauge that.”

Knowing why and gauging that are part of the manager’s job description, but defense was supposed to be the constant for the defending World Series champs that would help bail out a pitching staff stressed from back-to- back playoff runs and take pressure off the young hitters in the lineup.

“I did not expect what we did last year, because that was like above and beyond,” Maddon said. “I do expect us to be really good at this. And to this point, I don’t know where we rank in a lot of different efficiencies – or deficiencies. But just the eyeball test – we haven’t been as good.”

The Cubs actually rank third in the majors in defensive efficiency, but that’s still a steep drop from maybe being the best defensive team in baseball history.

Maddon definitely sounded annoyed after Tuesday’s night loss to a last-place team, watching a Javier Baez error help set up Buster Posey’s three-run homer and Ian Happ failing to stop a ball that skipped underneath his glove and created an insurance run.

Happ is a rookie without a natural position – and it’s not fair to compare anyone at second base to Baez – but the little things add up eventually. The Giants began to manufacture the go-ahead run in the seventh inning on Wednesday afternoon when Happ couldn’t make a diving, game-changing play on Denard Span’s infield single. It’s a sign of how many moving parts the Cubs are dealing with – and that shifting players around the field and playing to Maddon’s love of versatility won’t automatically create the next Ben Zobrist.

“Think of how many games has Happ even played at second,” Zobrist said. “He needs to at least have some time there to get his feet wet and kind of get that feel. He’s been playing a lot more outfield than the infield. And Javy hasn’t played shortstop as much. He played some, but to start playing it every day like he has been since Addie’s been on the DL is different for him, too.

“Maybe there’s a little something there where you got a couple guys that haven’t played as much up the middle together.

“All I can tell you from my perspective is: I know that those guys are doing as much – if not more – work now than they had been earlier in the season, or last year for that matter, as far as Javy’s concerned. It’s definitely not a lack of work or effort.”

The margin for error is so thin when Bumgarner is at full strength and shutting down the Cubs for seven innings (except for the first-pitch fastball Albert Almora Jr. drove over the left-center-field wall for a solo home run). But the Cubs already understand how it works and what it takes in October.

“I want us to make the routine play more routinely,” Maddon said. “Not even the spectacular play – I’m just talking about the routine stuff. Play catch. And if we make the great play, I’ll take it.

“It’s a mental thing where you just have to raise your mental focus out there to make sure that it doesn’t happen, because we have to catch the ball.

“All that stuff is interrelated. When we make mistakes that we shouldn’t make, I start counting pitches that we’re now throwing that we shouldn’t have to throw otherwise. That’s what really concerns me."

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CSNChicago.com Cubs bullpen takes a hit with Koji Uehara going on the DL By Patrick Mooney

SAN FRANCISCO – Cubs manager Joe Maddon could immediately sense something felt off with Koji Uehara on Tuesday night at AT&T Park and told pitching coach to check on one of the team’s most valuable relievers.

By Wednesday morning on the West Coast, the Cubs made the logical move official before a game against the San Francisco Giants: Uehara to the disabled list with a strained neck and right-hander Justin Grimm back up from Triple-A Iowa.

“You knew that first pitch,” Maddon said. “I send ‘Boz’ out to make sure he’s OK after that first hitter. He said he was, and then (Pablo) Sandoval gets the knock. I knew something was wrong. And then he finally conceded.

“We just want to make sure that we calm it down. He’s so important to us moving forward, getting him right in the latter part of the season. Looking to play September and October, we want him to be well.”

The Cubs framed it as being precautious with the discomfort Uehara has been feeling for several days on the right side/lower part of his neck. Maybe this is a way to help preserve a 42-year-old right-hander who’s lasted nine seasons in the big leagues on top of the 1,500-plus innings he threw in Japan.

“We’ll find out,” Maddon said.

Uehara has big-game experience, notching the last out for the in the , pitching in six other playoff series and making the 2014 All-Star team. It doesn’t matter if he’s facing right- or left-handed hitters – opponents have a sub-.600 OPS throughout his big-league career.

Making 200-plus starts for the Yomiuri Giants gave Uehara a sense of confidence and a feel for his craft. Working on a one-year, $6 million deal, he is 3-4 with 13 holds, two saves and a 3.55 ERA in 43 appearances.

“I love putting him in the game, man,” Maddon said. “Here’s a guy that’s unique in today’s bullpen market. He’s a neutral guy and he throws strikes and he’s normally pitch-efficient, so you don’t worry about him being OK the next day or even the day after that, because you know he’s not throwing 20-25 pitches every time he goes out there.

“He’s an aggressive strike-thrower. And then when he walks that hitter so easily – on pitches that were so far outside of the strike zone – I knew. So, hopefully, he takes a couple days off, he comes back and then he feels good the rest of the way.”

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Chicago Tribune Cubs face somber scenarios after Willson Contreras' hamstring injury By Mark Gonzales

Kyle Hendricks acknowledged the Cubs' dugout suddenly got quiet Wednesday after Willson Contreras grabbed his right hamstring before falling to the grass past first base after grounding out to end the eighth inning.

As Contreras slowly walked off the field with the help of a trainer and coach, the Cubs realized they must regroup at a crucial juncture in the season.

After the 3-1 loss to the lowly Giants — their sixth setback in the last eight games — the Cubs lead the National League Central by 1 1/2 games over the Cardinals and Brewers.

But the defeat took a backseat to the suspense surrounding the potential severity of Contreras' leg injury.

Contreras, 25, who is batting .270 with 21 home runs and 70 RBIs and is a defensive force in his first full season at catcher, will undergo an MRI Thursday with the result to be released before they meet the Diamondbacks.

"We know how he's feeling," Hendricks said. "We feel bad for him. He's a guy who works hard and does everything the right way. To have something like that happen, it just sucks."

Because Contreras barely could put pressure on his leg and the stress the position puts on his legs, the Cubs are bracing themselves for life without their most valuable player for an extended period with him on the disabled list.

"If I had to guess, I would definitely guess he would be a DL candidate," manager Joe Maddon said. "But we'll wait and see when the actual results come in."

Newly acquired veteran Alex Avila is expected to take over the majority of the catching duties, with switch-hitting rookie Victor Caratini likely to be called up from Triple-A Iowa.

The Cubs are likely to take a conservative approach with Contreras, who could be sidelined for at least a month if the MRI reveals a substantial tear.

Contreras declined to talk to reporters afterward, but Anthony Rizzo reported the catcher was in good spirits, adding that he said he has suffered hamstring injuries worse than this.

Contreras suffered a left hamstring pull in the Arizona Fall League in 2015 while running to first base and missed the final two weeks.

"(However), when you see someone grab like that, it's not very good," Rizzo said. "But you never know."

The loss of Contreras will force the Cubs to be resourceful, as they were in the second part of June when Ben Zobrist, Jason Heyward and Hendricks were sidelined with injuries. Contreras has provided stability in the middle of the order as he's hitting .305 with 13 home runs and 35 RBIs in the batting cleanup.

Maddon thought the injury could provide a galvanizing effect on the roster, while Rizzo offered a more realistic assessment.

"What can you do?" Rizzo said. "It's part of the game, you have to get ready for it. You don't want (to lose) someone in the middle of the order, especially with the year he has had.

"It's upsetting for him and for us, but we have to keep playing."

Contreras has thrown out 17 would-be base stealers in 66 attempts and he has picked off five baserunners. That latter stat will loom large because left-hander has made a seamless transition working with Contreras after his personal catcher, , retired last season.

The addition of Alex Avila has allowed Maddon to play Contreras in the outfield and at first base to keep his bat in the lineup.

"He has been carrying us," Maddon said. "Any kind of offensive resurgence we've had is primarily centered around him and his contributions."

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Chicago Tribune Cubs catcher Alex Avila says he's ready for additional workload By Mark Gonzales

When Alex Avila joined the Cubs on Aug. 1, manager Joe Maddon declared the nine-year left-handed hitting veteran wasn't a backup catcher.

Now, Avila is confident he can resume the full-time role he once held with the Tigers in the wake of Willson Contreras' right hamstring injury.

"I've caught most of the guys and felt comfortable," Avila said Wednesday after Contreras injured his leg in the eighth inning of a 3-1 loss to the Giants.

Maddon has been impressed with Avila's work in a short span, and Avila — who has played in four postseasons with the Tigers (2011-14) — expressed optimism the Cubs would survive despite Contreras' injury.

"We have nothing to hang our heads (about)," Avila said. "We're in first place. We're in a great position. That's the bottom line."

Reset button: The Cubs have lost six of their last eight games after starting the second half with a 14-3 record. Maddon points to their inability to make plays defensively and a lack of consistency from the offense.

"We have to push ourselves mentally to get over the hump because it's not a lack of guys being mentally involved, but we have to will ourselves to win," Maddon said. "We just can't make the mistakes we're making that permits the other team to have an edge."

Highs and lows: Albert Almora Jr. continued his mastery of left-handed pitching with two of the Cubs' six hits, including a home run off Madison Bumgarner with two outs in the third. Almora is hitting .346 against lefties.

Kyle Hendricks pitched 42/3 innings of one-run ball but was pulled after 96 pitches. He allowed a two-out single to Joe Panik in the second for the Giants' first run. Lefty Brian Duensing allowed three hits in the seventh to allow the Giants to take a 2-1 lead and snap his scoreless streak at 16 1/3 innings.

Injury update: The tenderness of Addison Russell's right foot has caused the Cubs to take a cautious approach that all but rules out a return from the 10-day disabled list by the start of the next homestand Monday.

The Cubs are letting Russell's foot heal at its own pace, with no specific finish line for his rehabilitation. Russell stayed in Chicago to perform his rehabilitation with physical therapist Ryan Mertz, and it's possible he might not return until late next week. Russell is eligible to come off the DL on Sunday.

Reliever Koji Uehara was placed on the DL with a right neck strain suffered in the eighth inning of Tuesday's loss. Reliever Justin Grimm was called up from Triple-A Iowa before Wednesday's game.

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Chicago Tribune Cubs place Koji Uehara on 10-day DL with neck strain By Mark Gonzales

The Chicago Cubs took precautionary measures Wednesday by placing reliever Koji Uehara on the 10-day disabled list because of a neck strain.

Uehara came out of Tuesday's game at San Francisco after only two batters, and the Cubs believed it was wise to let the discomfort subside after Uehara thought it would take only a few days to heal.

Reliever Justin Grimm was called up from Triple-A Iowa to replace Uehara.

Meanwhile, the Cubs are taking a deliberate approach with shortstop Addison Russell, who is on the DL due to a right foot strain.

Russell might not be able to rejoin the Cubs until the end of their next homestand, which starts Monday and runs through Aug. 20.

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Chicago Tribune Giants take series from Cubs, who have now lost 6 of their last 8 games By Mark Gonzales

The Cubs are holding their collective breath after catcher Willson Contreras injured his right leg in the eighth inning of a 3-1 loss to the Giants on Wednesday at AT&T Park.

Contreras, who has 21 home runs and 70 RBIs, pulled up a few steps before crossing first base on a groundout to end the inning, then grabbed his leg. Contreras, who on Monday was named the National League player of the week after batting .455 with five home runs and 13 RBIs, was on the ground for several moments before walking off the field slowly with the help of a trainer and coach.

The Cubs now have lost six of their last eight games.

At the plate

Albert Almora Jr. continued his mastery of left-handed pitching when he smacked a home run off Madison Bumgarner with two outs in the third. The Cubs put runners at first and second in the first, but Contreras and Ian Happ struck out. The Cubs managed only two baserunners in Bumgarner's final four innings.

On the mound

Kyle Hendricks pitched 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball but was pulled after 96 pitches. He allowed a two-out single to Joe Panik in the second for the Giants’ first run. Left-hander Brian Duensing allowed three hits in the seventh that allowed the Giants to break a 1-1 tie and snap Duensing’s scoreless streak at 16 1/3 innings, and gave up a solo homer to Hunter Pence in the eighth.

In the field

Robust Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval made a diving stop and accurate throw to first to retire Ben Zobrist to end the fifth.

Key number

.346 — Albert Almora Jr.’s batting average against left-handers.

Up next

Diamondbacks at Chase Field, 8:40 p.m. Friday. RH John Lackey vs. TBA.

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Chicago Tribune Ridiculous to criticize Joe Maddon for his Hazleton comments By David Haugh

Feel free to second-guess Cubs manager Joe Maddon on anything and everything about his job, from batting orders to bullpen decisions to the benefit of those wacky theme trips.

Even though Maddon won the World Series — and maybe especially then — he often does things that open him up to such scrutiny. That comes with the territory.

But anybody criticizing Maddon for recent comments about his hometown of Hazleton, Pa., borders on ridiculous.

Maddon ruffled feathers recently during an interview with NBC News correspondent Harry Smith on “Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly.’’ On the growing Hispanic population in Hazleton, and its role in helping the city’s economy, Maddon said: “They're going to save our town. … You have two options right here: Either you get on board and help us as we're moving this thing along, or you're going to die. And when you die and go away, you're going to get out of the way. You're not going to be a part of the problem anymore. So it's either help or die."

Help or die.

Context be damned, those were the words people looking for problems failed to get past. The Times Leader in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., not only demanded Maddon apologize “for insulting the hard-working, fair-minded people of Hazleton,’’ but quoted several unnamed senior citizens ripping Hazleton’s once-favorite son.

“I hate him,’’ one said. “I hope he doesn’t win one game.’’

Another anonymously called Maddon “full of himself.’’

Yes, Maddon is so loathsome and full of himself that he showed up in Hazleton in mid-June during the Cubs’ trip to Pittsburgh to open a playground on East 4th Street.

The only apology should come from the newspaper’s editors for not identifying the people criticizing Maddon.

What an overreaction and unfair characterization of what Maddon meant. One would think Maddon would get the benefit of the doubt in his hometown, which he remains committed to with annual fundraisers and regular mentions, but that was not the case. Is this the new “Hazleton Way”?

Perhaps Maddon, a skilled and savvy communicator, wasn’t as eloquent as he could have been in saying “help or die,” stark terms that he acknowledged even bugged family members. But clumsy phrasing hardly warranted publicly pouncing on someone with such obviously good intentions and a track record for putting his money where his mouth is regarding Hazleton. The newspaper even suggested Maddon shouldn’t have done the NBC interview, ignoring any positive publicity or awareness such a national platform can create.

In fairness, the editorial mentioned Maddon’s desire to help the people back home and the impact of his work through the Hazelton Integration Project (HIP) — but it took 16 paragraphs to get to that point. The piece also went out of its way to point out that the Hazleton One Community Center isn’t Maddon’s but was purchased with a state grant of $195,000, in case anybody was tempted to give too much credit for Maddon’s continued involvement in his hometown.

Before the Cubs-Giants game Tuesday, Maddon refused to apologize while acknowledging his use of the word "die" sparked controversy.

"There's no ill intent," Maddon told reporters in San Francisco. "If you watch the show in its entirety, it's a really positive piece. And I think the message is 99.9 percent positive. So for those who misinterpreted the comments, I can't say I even apologize for that because there's no ill intent involved. I don't wish that on any human being. And actually I wish the opposite."

Maddon’s actions in the past back up his words, which he realizes didn’t accurately convey his message.

"My meaning is please get on board," Maddon said. "Because if you do ... we are going to turn this city around more quickly and then have a greater impact on the surrounding areas too. For the group that is anti-what I said, I'd just like to know what their take is specifically on what we're doing. I'd like to hear ... why they're so averse to what we're doing and what they think of the people who are moving to our hometown."

Locals should be grateful Maddon still cares enough about Hazleton to want to hear what they think about anything. Many people who leave small towns forget where they came from but Maddon, despite his celebrity, never has. Come to think of it, circumstances dictate that Maddon should say something to people back in his Pennsylvania hometown as a result of everything that has happened.

It is, “You’re welcome.’’

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Chicago Tribune Cubs set playoff ticket prices for season-ticket holders By Tim Bannon

Tickets for Cubs playoff games will range from $71 for the National League Division Series to $481 for a World Series game, the Cubs announced Wednesday in a letter to season ticket holders.

Single game tickets that are not part of a season ticket play will have different pricing.

"There is really nothing like fall baseball at the Friendly Confines," Colin Faulkner, senior vice president of sales and marketing wrote in the letter.

Season ticket holders have until Aug. 30 to pay for the tickets. The NLDS begins Oct. 6. The NLCS begins Oct. 14. And the World Series will start on Oct. 24, with a Game 7 scheduled for Nov. 1, if necessary.

Tickets for the NLDS range from $71 for upper deck seats to $236 for bullpen box seats. NLCS tickets range from $121 to $356. And World Series tickets start at $201 and go to $481 for those club boxes.

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Chicago Sun-Times New Cub Alex Avila steps into big role after Willson Contreras’ injury By Gordon Wittenmyer

SAN FRANCISCO — The injury Wednesday to hot-hitting catcher Willson Contreras makes the Cubs’ trade-deadline acquisition of veteran catcher Alex Avila look as big as their deal for left-hander Jose Quintana.

Until that trade July 30 with the Tigers, the Cubs’ backup for Contreras was rookie Victor Caratini, who made his major-league debut in late June.

With Contreras facing the likelihood of more than a month on the disabled list, Avila becomes a critical figure in the Cubs’ efforts to win the National League Central and return to the playoffs.

‘‘I really like what Alex has done,’’ manager Joe Maddon said after the Cubs’ 3-1 loss to the Giants. ‘‘The biggest thing now is going to be [left-hander] Jonny Lester, the involvement of the new catcher with Jon.’’

Lester’s ability to control the running game is linked to his relationship with a personal catcher. He shifted from David Ross, who retired, to the strong-armed Contreras this season.

‘‘I like what Alex has done so far, watching his method behind the plate,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘He’s actually throwing the ball really well, too. There’s a lot to like there.’’

Avila has caught three of the Cubs’ starters since the trade, including right-hander Kyle Hendricks on Wednesday, and said he’s ready.

‘‘I feel comfortable with most of them already,’’ Avila said. ‘‘It usually doesn’t take me too long to feel pretty comfortable with a pitcher back there as far as receiving his balls and getting a feel for how his ball moves.

‘‘And the overall game-planning and everything like that hasn’t been much different than what I’m used to. It’s been a smooth transition so far.’’

Hendricks, right-hander Jake Arrieta and right-hander John Lackey all expressed strong first impressions of Avila.

‘‘Alex and I got more on the same page as it went,’’ said Hendricks, who struggled from the second inning into the fourth with his fastball command. ‘‘It was very comfortable with him, actually, the first time out there. That was a really good positive from today. It’s a good thing we got him.’’

Koji care

The Cubs put veteran right-hander Koji Uehara on the 10-day disabled list because of a stiff neck. Uehara, 42, said he had been dealing with it for several days.

Uehara walked the first batter he faced in the seventh Tuesday, then gave up a single before being pulled from the game. He left the mound with a trainer. The injury isn’t considered to be serious.

‘‘We just want to make sure that we calm it down,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘He’s so important to us moving forward. . . . Looking to play in September and October, we want him to be well.’’

The Cubs recalled right-hander Justin Grimm from Class AAA Iowa to replace Uehara.

This and that

Shortstop Addison Russell, who stayed back in Chicago to rehab his ailing right foot, won’t be ready to return from the disabled list Sunday, his first eligible date. The Cubs aren’t sure if he’ll be ready to return during the homestand that starts Monday.

• The Cubs plan to have Caratini join the team Friday in Phoenix for the start of the series against the Diamondbacks.

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Chicago Sun-Times Cubs brace for worst after Willson Contreras suffers hamstring injury By Gordon Wittenmyer

SAN FRANCISCO — In the seconds it took Willson Contreras to grab his right hamstring and hop past first base before collapsing in the outfield grass, the mood in the Cubs’ dugout changed as dramatically — as suddenly — as their fortunes seemingly have.

‘‘It just got quiet,’’ right-hander Kyle Hendricks said.

A second-half surge into first place. A return of their championship swagger. A refocused playoff vision. All of it flashed before the Cubs’ eyes Wednesday at AT&T Park when their closest thing to an irreplaceable player crumpled to the grass.

‘‘He’s been carrying us, really, the last couple of weeks,’’ Hendricks said. ‘‘It’s definitely a blow. We’ve got to wait to hear a timeline on it, but it’s definitely not good.’’

The Cubs are holding out faint hope that the injury Contreras suffered while running out a grounder in the eighth inning of their 3-1 loss to the Giants isn’t as serious as it looked.

But the reigning National League player of the week, who had to be helped from the field, might miss a month or more based on the nature of the injury and the rigors of playing catcher.

‘‘We’ll find out,’’ said manager Joe Maddon, who already was penciling in recently acquired veteran Alex Avila into his daily catching plans.

Contreras, who suffered a pulled hamstring that ended his Arizona Fall League season in 2014, is scheduled to have an MRI exam Thursday in Arizona. The results and prognosis are expected by the time the Cubs open a three-game series Friday against the Diamondbacks.

‘‘He’s in good spirits,’’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo said after the game. ‘‘He said he’s had it worse.’’

The timing couldn’t be worse for the Cubs, who have lost three series in a row. They are clinging to a 1½-game lead over the Cardinals, who have won five consecutive games, and the Brewers, who have lost four in a row, in the National League Central.

The loss of Contreras came on the same day the Cubs put veteran reliever Koji Uehara on the disabled list with a stiff neck and a day after they lost one of the sloppiest games they played since the All-Star break.

‘‘We came out with a lot of energy, played well post-break, and now we’re just getting back into that thing where we have to push ourselves mentally, more than anything, to get over the hump,’’ Maddon said, referring to recent costly mistakes, especially in the field. ‘‘It’s not a lack of guys being mentally involved; they’re there. But we’ve got to somehow almost will ourselves to win.’’

Nobody in the lineup had done more for the Cubs since they went into the break with a losing record and a 5½- game deficit in the division than Contreras, who proclaimed, ‘‘We’re back,’’ when the team swept the Orioles coming out of the break.

‘‘Obviously, he’s been carrying us,’’ Maddon said. ‘‘Any kind of offensive resurgence we’ve had has been primarily centered around him and his contributions.’’

Contreras was 10-for-22 (.455) with five home runs and 13 RBI in six games last week and is hitting .311 with 10 homers and 29 RBI in 22 games since the break. He has been so productive that Maddon has played him in left field and first base in the last week to keep him in the lineup daily.

‘‘All the different things that he does — and his energy — are vital to us,’’ Maddon said.

‘‘He’s turned into one of our horses,’’ Rizzo said. ‘‘We’ve just got to pick him up. What can you do? Guys get hurt; it’s part of the game. It’s upsetting for him and for us, too. But we’ve got to keep playing baseball.’’

Maddon was clinging to the ‘‘galvanizing effect’’ theory.

‘‘Something like this, for as bad as it seems on the surface, actually could galvanize the group,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve seen it before where your best player in that moment goes down, and all of a sudden everybody else elevates their game a bit.

‘‘That’s what I’m looking to see starting on Friday.’’

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Chicago Sun-Times Cubs put Koji Uehara on DL, recall Justin Grimm By Elan Kane

The Cubs have put relief pitcher Koji Uehara on the 10-day disabled list with neck soreness and recalled Justin Grimm from Class AAA Iowa.

Uehara left the Tuesday night’s game against the Giants because of stiffness on the lower right side of his neck after facing two batters in the seventh. He said after that he had been dealing with the injury for “several days.”

Manager Joe Maddon said rest for Uehara right now is essential so he can be ready to pitch later in the season.

“We just want to make sure we calm it down,” Maddon said. “He’s so important to us going forward — getting him right for the latter part of the season [and] looking to play in September and October.”

Uehara is 3-4 this season with a 3.55 ERA and 45 in 38 innings.

Grimm is expected to arrive at the park today near game time and will be available to pitch in the Cubs game against the Giants. Grimm has a 5.18 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 40 in the majors this season.

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Daily Herald Imrem: Signs not looking good for Chicago Cubs By Mike Imrem

All the Chicago Cubs' troubling signs were evident Wednesday afternoon at San Francisco.

They went beyond losing a game 3-1, squandering a three-game series 2-1 to the 46-70 Giants and falling to 59-54 on the season.

As you might have noticed -- and as the TV team of Len Kasper and pointed out -- Cub batters declined at least three times to bust it out of the batter's box.

What would be more of a sign that players don't have their heads in the right place than disrespecting manager Joe Maddon's "Respect 90" mantra?

Then almost predictably the way things are going, hot-hitting Willson Contreras did bust it down the line and ended up limping to first base and out of the game.

The World Series hangover many refer to is evident, but it has little to do with what the Cubs are doing at the ballpark. Just about every athlete attacks the field of play when competitive juices urge them to do whatever it takes to win.

The hangover has more to do with how committed players are away from the ballpark … starting back at home during the off-season.

Even champions, maybe especially champions, change from year to year. Some get married, some get divorced, some have kids, some have business opportunities, some have personal issues, some have contract issues, some have issue issues.

It's easy for them to be distracted from their jobs, to think less about the game than they were, to be less consumed by it.

Attention to detail suffers. Fundamentals are fudged. Sloppiness sets in.

Blurred focus is the only explanation for the sloppy play that has even ever-optimistic Maddon lamenting his team's declining defense and bad at-bats.

We in Chicago speak from experience on the subject since the White Sox won the and didn't make the playoffs the next season.

Early in '06, I asked then-Cardinals manager what possibly could keep the Sox from repeating after trading Aaron Rowand to Philadelphia and receiving slugging Jim Thome in exchange.

Otherwise, the Sox were mostly the same team that raced through the regular season, playoffs and World Series but missed the postseason the next season.

La Russa brought up hunger … teams don't repeat because they aren't as hungry as they were the previous season.

Have the 2017 Cubs struck you as being as hungry as they were in 2016?

Early in that same '06 season, I asked Jorge Posada, who played on three consecutive championship teams, what the key was to repeating.

The Yanks' catcher said it was arriving at spring training in the right mindset to reach ready to go.

Do the Cubs strike you as being ready from the start of the season?

At least the Sox won 90 games in the 2006 regular season, and the Cubs don't appear inclined to go 31-18 from here to reach that total.

OK, so championship hangovers are a reason for only one National League team repeating as World Series champs during the past 95 years.

Now the question is whether the Cubs -- or any team -- over a season's final 49 games can regain the focus that won a World Series the previous season.

The Cubs give no indication they will and , St. Louis and Pittsburgh all are lurking to take advantage of the fallout.

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