Cubs Daily Clips
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April 25, 2017 Chicago Tribune, Cubs No. 5 hitter Addison Russell: 'I expect to hit every first inning' http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-addison-russell-four-hits-2017042-story.html Chicago Tribune, Jason Heyward, Cubs offense provide cushion in 14-3 win over Pirates http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-pirates-spt-0425-20170424-story.html Chicago Tribune, Kyle Schwarber likes challenge of playing left field at PNC, Fenway parks this week http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-kyle-schwarber-left-field-notes-spt-0425-20170424- story.html Chicago Tribune, Pitching coach Chris Bosio to miss rest of Cubs' trip http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-chris-bosio-trip-20170424-story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs prospects Eloy Jimenez and Jacob Hannemann on the mend http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-eloy-jimenez-cubs-minors-spt-0425-20170424- story.html Chicago Sun-Times, Big night for Cub bats, maybe bigger for Brett Anderson, rotation http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/big-night-for-cub-bats-maybe-bigger-for-brett-anderson-rotation/ Chicago Sun-Times, Some Cubs profiled for PED testing? Random is random, MLB insists http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/some-cubs-profiled-for-ped-testing-random-is-random-mlb-insists/ Chicago Sun-Times, A true view, indeed: More strikeouts, walks and home runs http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/a-true-view-indeed-more-strikeouts-walks-and-home-runs/ Daily Herald, One area of concern for Chicago Cubs: quality starts http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170424/one-area-of-concern-for-chicago-cubs-quality-starts Cubs.com, Blue Monday: Cubs put on show vs. Pirates http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/226286744/cubs-put-up-14-runs-vs-pirates/ Cubs.com, Heyward continues to impress at the dish http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/226293736/cubs-jason-heyward-rebounding/ Cubs.com, Maddon sticking with Schwarber in left field http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/226255662/cubs-stick-with-schwarber-in-left-field/ Cubs.com, Hendricks hoping for bounceback start http://atmlb.com/2pvFlZK ESPNChicago.com, Cubs' offense 'demoralizing' for opponents http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/43872/cubs-offense-demoralizing-for-opponents -- Chicago Tribune Cubs No. 5 hitter Addison Russell: 'I expect to hit every first inning' By Mark Gonzales The depth of the Chicago Cubs’ lineup keeps No. 5 hitter Addison Russell eager from the first pitch. “I expect to hit every first inning,” Russell said late Monday night after earning his first four-hit game of his young career as the Cubs coasted to a 14-3 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. “That’s the type of ballplayers we have. They grind out at-bats from the first at-bat to the last at-bat, guys that get on somehow, some way and guys with big knocks along the way before it gets to me. “Seeing all that, seeing the pitches they take, see the hacks they take, definitely prepares me for my at-bat, especially with runners o. It gives me a chance to reflect on what the pitcher is trying to do in that situation if I were to come up to bat.” Never was the situation so ideal as it was for Russell in the first inning when he watched Pirates starter Chad Kuhl issue consecutive walks after two outs. That brought Russell to the plate, and he promptly ripped a single to right to score the Cubs’ first run and set up a three-run home run by Jason Heyward. Russell, 23, is second on the Cubs with 14 RBIs and credits the “B” hack stressed by manager Joe Maddon in which a hitter chokes up on the bat, looks for a fastball and hit the ball the opposite way with two out. “That’s been my approach the whole year,” Russell said. “Not look for a specific pitch, just something I can handle and not try to do too much. Just put it in place and see where it goes. It’s working out. It seems like a pretty easy approach. I’m sticking with it.” Russell’s big night occurred two years and three days after making his major league debut here at PNC Park, where he went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts while playing second base instead of his natural position at shortstop. “It crazy how the world works,” Russell said. “This was my debut city. And it didn’t go too well. But this go-around, there’s some success. So there’s light.” -- Chicago Tribune Jason Heyward, Cubs offense provide cushion in 14-3 win over Pirates By Mark Gonzales As the Cubs rotation slowly seeks its 2016 form, the offense provided instant assistance Monday night. And if the starting pitchers can rebound in the manner Jason Heyward has in the first three weeks, the Cubs can start feeling better about their chances of repeating. Heyward cranked his third home run in four games — a three-run shot that capped a four-run first inning — to enable the Cubs to coast to a 14-3 victory over the Pirates at cold, damp PNC Park. The work Heyward put into altering his stance and swing in the winter and spring has produced impressive early results. "It's great to see, but it's not over," said Heyward, who is second on the Cubs with three homers to go with a team- leading 16 RBIs. "This game is hard. It's not easy. You're always going to be humbled in any way, shape, form or fashion. "It's great to see hard work pay off ... but you've got to keep going." Heyward didn't collect his 16th RBI in 2016 until the Cubs' 45th game on May 25, and he didn't hit his third home run until the 56th game on June 6. This marked the second time in three games he drove in four runs as the lineup has become more formidable with Heyward batting sixth behind Addison Russell. Russell produced the first four-hit game of his career. His first-inning single followed consecutive two-out walks from Pirates starter Chad Kuhl, with Anthony Rizzo scoring on an error on the play. Heyward followed with his homer. "It's always foot on the gas," said winning pitcher Brett Anderson, who chipped in with a two-out RBI single in the second. The Cubs are averaging 5.42 runs, well ahead of last season's 4.98 mark. The quick strikes also provided a massive margin for error for Anderson, who became the first Cubs pitcher since April 16 to pitch a quality start despite walking six. "My offensive performance was better than my pitching," Anderson said. Despite Anderson's control issues, manager Joe Maddon was prepared to let him pitch into the seventh until an error by first baseman Rizzo extended the sixth and pushed Anderson to 100 pitches. "It was really encouraging, a really good game to build on," Maddon said, referring to Anderson's 11 ground-ball outs. "There's another level of him, and it's going to show very soon." That's if Anderson remains healthy. He slid forward to avoid getting hit by Rizzo's throw to third for a force play in the second and required medical attention. "It wasn't a dive," Anderson said. "It was a sniper. I tried to duck, but my left cleat had so much mud on it (that my foot) made a straight line to home. I'm sure it will be on a top-10 (highlight)." With two out in the sixth, Anderson needed medical attention again after a ball hit by Francisco Cervelli struck the left-hander on the pitching hand. Anderson stayed in the game and allowed an RBI triple to Jose Osuna and an RBI single to Josh Bell before getting the final out to be credited with a quality start. "I think I've had four starts and five or six medical mound visits, which isn't ideal," Anderson said. "As long as one thing doesn't stand out from the rest, I'll take it." -- Chicago Tribune Kyle Schwarber likes challenge of playing left field at PNC, Fenway parks this week By Mark Gonzales Kyle Schwarber will get the long and short of playing left field this week. But he's glad he's staying in left after Cubs manager Joe Maddon considered starting the slugger in the shorter right-field area at PNC Park. "It's definitely a different position with the angles, and the majority of the work in the spring and when I play has been in left," Schwarber said. "So maybe his thought process is to (stay in) the same position with the same visuals and not having to change it." Maddon confirmed Schwarber's assessment before Monday night's game. He started Schwarber in right for the 2015 National League wild-card game in Pittsburgh. PNC Park presents a different challenge with the alley in left-center 410 feet from home plate, compared with a 375-foot distance to right-center. "Can he do it?" Maddon said of Schwarber playing right. "Of course he can do it. I don't think there was anything heavily presented for him to do otherwise." Schwarber started a few games in right during spring training. Another unique challenge awaits him this weekend at Fenway Park with its famed 37-foot Green Monster 310 feet down the left-field line. "I've been to two games there," said Schwarber, who played for Wareham in the Cape Cod League in 2012.