April 6, 2016 CSNChicago.com, After all the hype, Jon Lester ready to roll with Cubs http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/jon-lester-already-showing-noticeable-progression-year-2-cubs CSNChicago.com, Cubs will face some interesting decisions with Jorge Soler http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/cubs-will-face-some-interesting-decisions-jorge-soler CSNChicago.com, Back with Cubs, Dexter Fowler playing like he has something to prove http://www.csnchicago.com/cubs/back-cubs-dexter-fowler-playing-he-has-something-prove Chicago Tribune, Jon Lester regains old form in leading Cubs to 6-1 victory over Angels http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-jon-lester-report-cubs-angels-spt-0406-20160405- story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs may be baseball's first team with its own laugh track http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-cubs-silliness-sullivan-spt-0406-20160405-column.html Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon's iPad gets early season workout http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-joe-maddons-ipad-gets-early-season-workout- 20160405-story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Matt Szczur stays compact but provides big results http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-matt-szczur-plays-big-20160405-story.html Chicago Tribune, Tuesday's recap: Cubs 6, Angels 1 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-gameday-cubs-angels-spt-0406-20160405- story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs prospect Duane Underwood Jr. playing catch-up http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-duane-underwood-jr-healing-20160406-story.html Chicago Tribune, No worries for Jon Lester in 2016 Cubs debut http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-jon-lester-feels-comfortable-20160405-story.html Chicago Tribune, Tom Ricketts assures Cubs fans Wrigley Field will be ready http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-tom-ricketts-assures-cubs-fans-wrigley-field-will-be- ready-20160405-story.html Chicago Tribune, Jorge Soler stays in Cubs lineup, in part to boost his confidence http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-jorge-soler-confidence-bits-cubs-spt-0406- 20160405-story.html Chicago Sun-Times, New and improved Jon Lester stymies Angels as Cubs start 2-0 http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/new-and-improved-jon-lester-stymies-angels-as-cubs-start-2-0/ Chicago Sun-Times, More Cub magic tricks: Pitchers make Trout, Pujols bats disappear http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/more-cub-magic-tricks-pitchers-make-trout-pujols-bats-disappear/ Chicago Sun-Times, World Series champions or 2016 failures? Cubs ‘don’t buy that’ http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/world-series-champions-or-2016-failures-cubs-dont-buy-that/ Chicago Sun-Times, Dexter Fowler is a leadoff man on a mission for Cubs http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/dexter-fowler-is-a-leadoff-man-on-a-mission-for-cubs/ Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs have leadoff leader in Fowler http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160405/sports/160409340/ Daily Herald, Arrieta sharp in opening act for Chicago Cubs http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160405/sports/160409482/ Daily Herald, Cubs' 'family' ready for another run at it http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160404/sports/160409480/ Daily Herald, Imrem: Cubs definitely will battle http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160405/sports/160409481/ Cubs.com, Lester comes out 'locked in' with opening gem http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/170735862/cubs-jon-lester-delivers-strong-season-debut Cubs.com, Cubs as advertised, cruise past Halos http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/170708146/cubs-overpower-angels-sweep-opening-series Cubs.com, Szczur channels Nova's hoops title in hot start http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/170738874/cubs-matt-szczur-rides-novas-win-in-hot-start Cubs.com, Wrigley institutions in place for Opening Day http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/170598950/wrigley-field-features-in-place-for-opener Cubs.com, Young stars Rizzo, Goldy face off in Cubs-D-backs tilt http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/170598950/wrigley-field-features-in-place-for-opener Cubs.com, Where the Cubs' Top 30 Prospects are starting the season http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/170633692/where-cubs-top-30-prospects-will-start-season ESPNChicago.com, Year 2 could be a lot different for Jon Lester (and David Ross) http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/37354/year-2-could-be-a-lot-different-for-jon-lester-and- david-ross ESPNChicago.com, Repeat performance nets Cubs a sweep of the Angels http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/37343/cubs-with-a-repeat-performance-netting-them-a- sweep-of-the-angels ESPNChicago.com, Matt Szczur making his case to stick with Cubs http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/37333/matt-szczur-making-his-case-to-stick-with-cubs -- CSNChicago.com After all the hype, Jon Lester ready to roll with Cubs By Patrick Mooney ANAHEIM, Calif. – The way Jon Lester understood The Plan, the Cubs would go full throttle trying to win the World Series in 2016. How the Cubs got to this point is a completely different story, without the kind of incremental improvement that would gradually raise expectations and create a cautious sense of optimism around the team. For two nights in Orange County, the Cubs absolutely lived up to the hype, blitzing the Los Angeles Angels and following the offseason playbook with dominant starting pitching, a relentless lineup and across-the-board contributions. “It always eases the overall tension of the clubhouse when you come out and you start playing well,” Lester said after Tuesday night’s 6-1 win. “Nobody wants to get out to a bad start. Especially now with the two wild cards, it could come down to one game whether you’re in or out at the end of the season.” The Cubs looked more like the American League team, outscoring the Angels 15-1 during this two-game sweep. That’s another reason why Lester can exhale and not be defined by dollar signs in the second season of the six- year, $155 million megadeal that signaled the Cubs were finally ready to compete. Lester followed up Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta by cruising through seven innings, allowing one run on four hits with four strikeouts against zero walks. The lefty didn’t have to compensate for the “dead arm” that slowed him down in spring training last year – or prove something to new teammates and a new city. “Obviously, I’m in a better place than I was last season,” Lester said. “Last year was just so different. There was a lot of hype involved – just around myself – and a lot of expectations. “You try to go out there the first start and live up to those expectations all at once, as opposed to just letting the season play out and go through your 32, 33 starts and see where we’re at in the end. “Physically, mentally, I’m light years ahead of where I was last year at this point.” To be clear, Lester didn’t have a bad season (11-12, 3.34 ERA, 207 strikeouts in 205 innings) and the Cubs would do this deal all over again. But manager Joe Maddon has already noticed the differences in a player known for being a creature of habit after spending 13 years in the Boston Red Sox organization. “I don’t think there was a moment last year that I thought his delivery was as smooth as I saw it (in spring training),” Maddon said. “The cutter from early on in camp was probably as good as it was at any time last season. “I also believe that one year removed from last year, he’s more comfortable not having the weight of the world on his shoulders. “He’s got other guys to deflect from right now, which I think is going to make him even better.” That includes everyone from MVP candidate Anthony Rizzo (two-run homer) to leadoff guy Dexter Fowler (two-run homer) to Matt Szczur (homer), the 25th man on the roster who got the start in left field the day after his Villanova Wildcats won the NCAA tournament and now leads the team with four RBI. “This is what we can do,” Rizzo said. “Now, it’s just about doing it every day. We took care of business.” The Cubs are now 2-0 for the first time since 1995 – or the year after shortstop Addison Russell was born – and should get a tougher test from another team that dominated the offseason headlines. The Cubs head back to the desert for a four-game series against Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller and the Arizona Diamondbacks that begins Thursday night at Chase Field. “So far, so good,” Lester said. -- CSNChicago.com Cubs will face some interesting decisions with Jorge Soler By Patrick Mooney ANAHEIM, Calif. – Jorge Soler’s name will almost certainly surface in trade rumors if – or when – the Cubs need to make a deal for pitching this summer. The Cubs can’t afford to hand Soler 600 at-bats, let him learn on the job and hope he becomes more fluid in the outfield, the way they nurtured other young players during their rebuilding cycle. Not when manager Joe Maddon has all these other options and president of baseball operations Theo Epstein was asked on Opening Day if this year will be judged a failure if the Cubs don’t win the World Series. Soler as the designated hitter made sense for the season’s first two games against the Los Angeles Angels – so the Cubs could get him into a rhythm – and maybe even for his long-term future if an American League team can see the potential and offer the right kind of young pitcher.