March 29, 2017 Chicago Sun-Times, Jake Arrieta tunes up for season debut; Cubs lose 10-7 to Giants http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/jake-arrieta-tunes-up-for-season-debut-cubs-lose-10-7-to-giants/ Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ Jason Heyward: Next 6 months will answer if overhaul worked http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-jason-heyward-next-6-months-will-answer-if-overhaul-worked/ Chicago Sun-Times, There’s only one way the Cubs can top 2016 season http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/theres-only-one-way-the-cubs-can-top-2016-season/ Chicago Sun-Times, Cub SS Addison Russell (back) at ’95 percent,’ hopes to avoid DL http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cub-ss-addison-russell-back-at-95-percent-hopes-to-avoid-dl/ Cubs.com, Arrieta fans 7 Giants in final spring start http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/221275504/giants-matt-cain-allows-4-runs-vs-cubs/ Cubs.com, Russell's back improving as Zobrist returns http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/221327742/cubs-addison-russells-back-injury-improving/ Cubs.com, Montero launches effort to help sick children http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/221291558/miguel-montero-to-help-sick-venezuelan-kids/ ESPNChicago.com, Curse-breaking Chicago Cubs not afraid to change http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/43516/curse-breaking-cubs-not-afraid-to-change ESPNChicago.com, Fatherly advice: Kris Bryant's dad has suggestions for LaVar Ball http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19026530/father-chicago-cubs-star-kris-bryant-offers-advice-lavar-ball CSNChicago.com, Cubs: Ben Zobrist's Path Back To October And A Possible Three-Peat http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-ben-zobrists-path-back-october-and-possible-three-peat CSNChicago.com, Cubs Return Rule 5 Lefty Caleb Smith To Yankees As Roster Comes Into Focus http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-return-rule-5-lefty-caleb-smith-yankees-roster-comes-focus CSNChicago.com, Is Addison Russell Still On Track For Opening Night? http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/addison-russell-still-track-opening-night CSNChicago.com, Cubs Release Munenori Kawasaki And Keep The Door Open For His Return http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/cubs-release-munenori-kawasaki-and-keep-door-open-his-return- maddon-russell-zobrist-baez Chicago Tribune, Kris Bryant signs deal as mobile game endorser http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chicagoinc/ct-kris-bryant-video-game-inc-spt-0329-20170328- story.html Chicago Tribune, Jake Arrieta likes Cubs' progressive spring plan http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-jake-arrieta-spring-20170328-story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs can count on Javier Baez if Addison Russell's back problems persist http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-addison-russell-back-injury-cubs-spt-0329- 20170328-story.html#nt=oft03a-1gp2 Chicago Tribune, Cubs' final roster spot coming down to Matt Szczur or Tommy La Stella http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-prepare-to-head-north-bits-spt-0329- 20170328-story.html Chicago Tribune, Cubs hope to re-sign Munenori Kawasaki to minor league deal http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-munenori-kawasaki-20170328-story.html Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon: DL not a consideration for Addison Russell http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-addison-russell-back-20170328-story.html -- Chicago Sun-Times Jake Arrieta tunes up for season debut; Cubs lose 10-7 to Giants By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. — Chris Marrero and former Cub Justin Ruggiano hit ninth-inning home runs on consecutive pitches from minor-leaguer Pierce Johnson – Marrero’s a three-run shot – as the Giants came from behind for a 10-7 victory Tuesday over the Cubs at Sloan Park. Another ex-Cub, Tim Federowicz, added another homer off Daury Torrez in the Giants’ five-run ninth. Arrieta ready Jake Arrieta pitched four innings in his final start of the spring, giving up a leadoff homer to Denard Span during a two-run, four-hit, three-strikeout, 36-pitch first. But he retired 10 of his final 11 faced, needing just 36 pitches total for the final three innings. “I’m getting close,” said Arrieta, who struck out seven and walked none. “There’s still some things that we’ll continue to work on, but that’s kind of the story of the season. … It was good. No walks. I hit [Nick] Hundley. There’s a couple pitches that are getting away. … But it’s getting better.” Arrieta plans to throw on the side Thursday and Saturday in preparation for his season debut Tuesday in St. Louis. Happ rap The day after getting sent to minor-league camp after a torrid big-league spring, infield prospect Ian Happ came off the bench as an invited bench player and doubled twice, including a two-run hit during the Cubs’ four-run sixth inning. He’s 22-for-53 (.415) this spring with 11 extra-base hits and a Cactus League-high 19 RBIs. October redux The Cubs went 2-4-1 this spring against their three playoff opponents from last fall: the Giants (0-2), Dodgers (2-0) and Indians (0-2-1). Crowd sourcing The Cubs on Tuesday drew a spring-season-high 15,513 – exactly 10 short of last year’s Cactus League record (March 20 vs. Royals). Zobrist returns Second baseman Ben Zobrist, who had been sidelined with neck stiffness since early last week, returned to the lineup and expected to be ready for Sunday’s opener. He flied to right twice and walked in three trips to the plate. It was Zobrist’s first game since the neck tightened up near the end of that last game he played, March 19. On deck Athletics at Cubs, Mesa, 3:05 p.m., cubs.com audio, John Lackey vs. Kendall Graveman. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs’ Jason Heyward: Next 6 months will answer if overhaul worked By Gordon Wittenmyer MESA, Ariz. — On the seventh pitch of an at-bat in the sixth inning Tuesday, the Cubs’ Jason Heyward lined a double into the gap in right-center field against the Giants’ Matt Cain. In the game before that, Heyward walked three times. In his final at-bat of the game before that, he homered. So is Heyward fixed? Is the $184 million right fielder, who slumped to the worst offensive season of his career in 2016, back to career-average form now that the offseason work and nearly all of spring training is done? ‘‘I don’t know,’’ Heyward said. ‘‘You’ll get the answer to that at the end of the season.’’ Maybe that’s the nature of these things. It’s certainly the only part that matters. Heyward worked daily for long stretches of the winter with hitting coaches John Mallee and Eric Hinske, trying in part to re-create the swing and success he had when he hit a career-high 27 home runs in 2012. He seems more at ease in his second season with the Cubs in the clubhouse and, some suggest, on the field. He said Tuesday he likes where he is physically and mentally at the plate, especially in recent games. And while Heyward’s swing doesn’t look dramatically different, his hands are lower, giving him a chance to get to the ball quicker, and there’s less wasted movement in his setup than even early in the spring schedule. But not even he will guess what it might produce once the regular season starts Sunday in St. Louis. Depending on the scout you talk with in Arizona, Heyward looks like the same basic hitter who hit .230 with seven homers and was benched during the playoffs or shows signs of renewed life and confidence that might translate to the bounce-back season he and the Cubs are looking for. ‘‘I like what he’s doing right now,’’ manager Joe Maddon said. ‘‘I thought the swings have been really good lately. I see them making constant progress. I see a lot of difference.’’ The Cubs won 103 games and the World Series last season despite Heyward’s struggles at the plate but also because of what he provided with his Gold Glove defense, heady baserunning and work ethic. If he can raise his career-worst .631 OPS even 100 points, it might be a significant factor in the Cubs’ efforts to repeat. Heyward said his work in the last four months has been both a physical and mental process. ‘‘The last few games, I’ve gone up there with the mindset of swinging at every pitch and letting my eyes tell me, ‘No,’ ’’ Heyward said. ‘‘That’s how you be aggressive in the strike zone. ‘‘I’m not talking about results [he still is hitting only .163 this spring], just the mindset and approach of each at-bat. As far as timing and just being able to go up there and react, I feel like [I’ve] been able to do that here these last few games. ‘‘I like how it feels. The approach is good. Trusting that, being able to trust myself to lay off pitches not in the zone when you’re being aggressive in the strike zone, swinging at strikes — that’s what I want to do.’’ Left-hander Jon Lester, who admitted he struggled at times in the first season of his $155 million deal, called it ‘‘just human nature’’ for Heyward to have struggled in his first season after the big deal — and to rebound to career norms this season. ‘‘You’re coming into a place where you don’t know a lot of guys,’’ Lester said.