April 18, 2017

ESPNChicago.com, It's still too early to judge Cubs' slow start http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/43759/still-too-early-to-judge-cubs-slow-start

ESPNChicago.com, First base used in Game 7 of World Series sells for $101,237 http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19182324/world-series-game-7-first-base-sells-more-100k-breaks-record

CSNChicago.com, ‘Too Early To Panic,’ But John Lackey Wants To See Cubs Match Other Teams’ Intensity http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/too-early-panic-john-lackey-wants-see-cubs-match-other-teams-intensity

CSNChicago.com, Through Ups And Downs With Cubs, Jason Hammel And Jorge Soler Earned Their World Series Rings http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/through-ups-and-downs-cubs-jason-hammel-and-jorge-soler-earned-their-world-series-rings

CSNChicago.com, Ex-Cub Travis Wood Makes Himself At Home Around Wrigley Field http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/ex-cub-travis-wood-makes-himself-home-around-wrigley-field

CSNChicago.com, Here's Why Cubs Fans Should Stop Freaking Out About The Bullpen http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/heres-why-cubs-fans-should-stop-freaking-out-about-bullpen

Chicago Tribune, Cubs look to Brett Anderson to bust 4-game slump http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-brett-anderson-slump-20170418-story.html#nt=oft03a-1la1

Chicago Tribune, Cubs may not be dominating like 2016, but no one should be concerned http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-cubs-slow-start-celebration-sullivan-spt-0418-20170417-column.html

Chicago Tribune, John Lackey falls behind early as Cubs skid reaches four vs. Brewers http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-albert-almora-jr-20170417-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Travis Wood walks down memory lane with Cubs http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-travis-wood-20170417-story.html

Chicago Tribune, First base bag from World Series Game 7 sells for $101,237 http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-world-series-base-auction-spt-20170417-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' David Ross needs jump-start on 'Dancing with the Stars' http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-dancing-with-the-stars-recap-david-ross-20170417-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs Q&A: Bullpen woes, Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-willson-contreras-bullpen-mailbag-cubs-q-a-20170417-story.html

Chicago Tribune, With Carl Edwards Jr. back, Cubs might stick with eight-man bullpen http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-eight-man-bullpen-cubs-notes-spt-0418-20170417-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs lose 6-3 to Brewers; first four-game skid since July http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-lose-6-3-to-brewers-first-four-game-skid-since-july/

Chicago Sun-Times, Carl Edwards Jr.’s return bumps Cub pen to 8, where it could stay http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/carl-edwards-jr-s-return-bumps-cub-pen-to-8-where-it-could-stay/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs are handing out World Series rings — but there’s a catch http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-are-hand-out-world-series-rings-but-theres-a-catch/

Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs' losing streak hits 4 http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170417/chicago-cubsx2019-losing-streak-hits-4

Daily Herald, Constable: Old Cub favorites get rings http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170418/constable-old-cub-favorites-get-rings

Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs happy to welcome back three friends http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170417/chicago-cubs-happy-to-welcome-back-three-friends

Cubs.com, Lackey off early as Cubs drop 4th straight http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/224812442/brewers-hit-three-homers-in-victory-over-cubs/

Cubs.com, Schwarber surprises Crew with 1st bunt hit http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/224922554/kyle-schwarber-collects-first-career-bunt-hit/?topicId=27118368

Cubs.com, Cubs unconcerned by recent tough stretch http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/224987856/cubs-not-buying-into-world-series-hangover/?topicId=27118368

Cubs.com, Hammel, Soler and Wood receive WS rings http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/224812708/three-former-cubs-given-world-series-rings/?topicId=27118368

Cubs.com, Edwards off bereavement list; La Stella on it http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/224812704/carl-edwards-jr-returns-from-bereavement-list/

-- ESPNChicago.com It's still too early to judge Cubs' slow start By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- So maybe the bad stretch every team goes through is happening right now for the Chicago Cubs. Or maybe the world champions are experiencing that hangover period after making history last season. Or perhaps it’s simply what John Lackey thinks is happening. “People are going to come in here gunning for us, for sure,” Lackey said after the Cubs’ 6-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday. “We’re the world champs and people are going to come in here and play well. We’ll have to match that intensity and play better.”

The Cubs haven’t exactly matched that intensity over the past four games, each one seemingly more sloppy than the last, and each ending in a loss. Lackey didn’t help matters with yet another frustrating start to his outing. He gave up three home runs in the first three innings on a 45-degree night with the wind blowing in. The Brewers deserve some credit, sure, but with the Cubs dropping to 6-7, no one is looking at the opposition -- just the flaws in the home team. “Losing is not our strong suit, I guess you would say,” Kyle Schwarber stated. That sounds like a confusing thought, but it’s clear what Schwarber means: Being under .500 just isn’t the Cubs’ thing, not anymore. It’s the first time since the end of the 2014 season they’ve been under .500 this late in the year -- and it’s only mid-April. The Cubs set the bar very high with a historic run last season, and they’re just not reaching it at the moment. “It happened to us last year right before the All-Star break,” Schwarber said. “We hit the skids. Hopefully, maybe we’re hitting it early. We’re super-early in the season still. Like I said, no panic.” It is early and the Cubs aren’t playing well at the moment. Manager Joe Maddon is mostly focused on his bullpen, which helped the Brewers turn a 4-3 lead into a 6-3 bulge on Monday. It’s a trend that could turn into a pattern before long. “That last inning could have played so differently had we just kept it 4-3,” Maddon said. “More than anything, we have to get the bullpen guys, get their confidence back. That’s going to make the difference in the latter part of the game. Even if it’s a deficit, to keep it a small deficit.” The Cubs’ bullpen is 1-4 with a 4.10 ERA. That’s hardly championship-caliber. But just as Lackey stated, the Cubs need to pick up their intensity, he was the first to declare he won’t judge his team for about 27 more games. “In the last 10 years or so, I break up the season into quarters,” Lackey explained. “We’ll see where we are then. Right now, it’s pretty early.” Back and forth, the rhetoric alternated. Mostly players settled on it being early, and though the Cubs won’t say it, there wasn’t much of a chance they could have duplicated last season's start, when they won 25 of their first 31 games. It just wasn’t realistic for a team that broke the longest professional championship drought in history, then had a short offseason and a purposely laid-back spring training. It's early, and the Cubs aren't playing up to expectations. We know for sure one of those facts will change, and the baseball world is fairly certain the other one will, as well. “We’re 12, 13 games into the season,” Albert Almora Jr. said. “We’re competitors. We want to win every game, but it's baseball. We’ll be fine.” -- ESPNChicago.com First base used in Game 7 of World Series sells for $101,237 By Darren Rovell Some game-used items from the World Series commanded big bucks from bidders in auctions offered by Major League Baseball that closed Monday night. The top item was the first base used for the final two innings of Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, in which the Cubs won their first title since 1908. That base sold for $101,237, the most ever paid at auction for a baseball base. The second base that was used in the ninth inning of Game 5 at Wrigley Field, when the Cubs won their first World Series game at home since 1945, went for $43,025.

The Cubs' on-deck circle used for games 1, 2, 6 and 7 topped $20,000. Not everything was for Cubs fans. Jon Lester's wild-pitch ball that brought in two runs in the form of Carlos Santana and Jason Kipnis in the fifth -- and gave the Indians a 5-3 lead in Game 7 -- sold for more than $10,000. The items were authenticated by Major League Baseball and auctioned by the league on its website. -- CSNChicago.com ‘Too Early To Panic,’ But John Lackey Wants To See Cubs Match Other Teams’ Intensity By Patrick Mooney On Monday morning, ESPN.com posted a story that asked: "Are .500 Cubs an Average Team?" That afternoon, the multi-screen wall in the hallway that leads from the Wrigley Field clubhouse to the home dugout showed an MLB Network segment comparing World Series hangovers between the Cubs and Cleveland Indians: "Which Team Are You More Concerned About Moving Forward?" The Cubs can always answer those types of questions by flashing their championship bling and reminding everyone that they still have almost 92 percent of a 162-game schedule remaining. If the Cubs didn't freak out about the possibility of facing Johnny Cueto, Madison Bumgarner and the even-year San Francisco Giants in an elimination game, or fold after a 21-inning scoreless streak against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, or panic down 3-1 in the World Series, then they won't sweat a four-game losing streak in the middle of April. John Lackey didn't exactly storm into the interview room after a 6-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, turning to a Cubs media relations official as he sat down at the table and saying: "It beats working at Sears, huh?" "It's too early to panic about anything right now," said Lackey, a three-time World Series champion. "We got, obviously, a lot of talent on this team and we'll just get into it a little bit here. The last 10 years or so, I kind of break the season up into quarters. Until you get to about 40, 50 games – we'll see where we're at then." The 2016 Cubs played like a team on a mission, winning 25 of the season's first 31 games, building up a double-digit division lead in June and spending 180 days in first place. After the Pittsburgh Pirates swept a weekend series in Wrigleyville, Ryan Braun played the villain, getting booed before his first at-bat and then smashing a Lackey pitch into the left-field bleachers for a 2-0 lead in the first inning. "People are going to come in here gunning for us, for sure," Lackey said. "We're the world champs, and people want to come in here and play well. We're going to have to match that intensity and play better." The Brewers (8-6) found the video board sweet spot and launched three homers off Lackey on a night with 37-degree wind chill. Lackey barked at home plate umpire Carlos Torres in the third inning after an Eric Thames blast flew over the basket and bounced into the left-field bleachers, making it five games in a row with a home run for the slugger who reinvented himself in South Korea. After six innings, Lackey (1-2, 4.00 ERA) handed a 4-3 game over to a bullpen still taking shape. Mike Montgomery – who got the final out in a World Series Game 7 – couldn't keep it close in the eighth inning. What's supposed to be a shutdown defense got sloppy when Braun sprinted to steal third base and catcher Willson Contreras threw the ball into left field, allowing an insurance run to score. "When you go 6-6 in the middle of the year, nobody notices," manager Joe Maddon said before the game. "You're going to see more consistent hitting as we move it along. Remember I talked about (how) it takes about a month to figure out your bullpen. We're still in the process of getting everybody comfortable out there.

"So I think as the hitting peaks a little bit more, which it will, and we really establish getting the bullpen guys comfortable, that's when we're really going to take off." Whether it's reacting to Milwaukee's defense, looking for a spark or playing the long game against scouting reports, Kyle Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo, two of the most dangerous hitters in the game, bunted on their own against the shift. "There's no panic on our side at all," Schwarber said. "We know that we're a good baseball team and we'll bounce back." The 2016 Cubs also looked completely winded after a 24-games-in-24-days stretch that ended in the middle of July. The 2017 Cubs already have the muscle memory and can look at their ring fingers if they ever need a reminder. But the rest of Major League Baseball has also noticed the victory tour. "Embrace The Target," right? "I'm sure that we'll turn some things around," Schwarber said. "Obviously, when you're a competitor, you want to win. That's why we're out there – we want to win. Losing's not our strong suit, I guess you would say, as baseball players. "Obviously, it stinks, but we have to turn the page. This happened to us last year right before the All-Star break. We hit the skids. So hopefully we're hitting it maybe early." -- CSNChicago.com Through Ups And Downs With Cubs, Jason Hammel And Jorge Soler Earned Their World Series Rings By Patrick Mooney It looked weird, three Kansas City Royals employees wearing gold-trimmed Cubs jerseys on their day off. But there must be some sort of 108-year exception to Major League Baseball's no-fraternization policy or whatever unwritten rule that might fall under now. Jason Hammel, Jorge Soler and Travis Wood received their World Series rings before Monday night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Team president Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and manager Joe Maddon stood near home plate as the Cubs played a tribute on the giant video board above the left-field bleachers and handed out the championship bling, a warm tribute to three players who helped build a contender. "I love the idea that we're bringing these guys back to honor them in this manner," Maddon said, "because they were really big in regards to us winning the World Series — and in the previous year almost getting to the World Series. I just think that if I'm them, man, I'm just digging on this and there's nothing negative about it whatsoever." Maddon's quick hook frustrated Hammel, who felt he deserved more respect and latitude as a veteran pitcher who won 33 games and put up a 3.59 ERA in a Cubs uniform. The Cubs buying out Hammel's 2017 option for $2 million — after he missed his last start with right elbow tightness and didn't make the roster in all three playoff rounds — led to a free-agent odyssey that didn't end until early February with a two-year, $16 million contract with the Royals. Whether or not Soler ever puts it all together and lives up to the enormous potential the Cubs saw when they gave the Cuban defector a $30 million, major-league contract, it wasn't going to happen at Wrigley Field now. Where would Soler play and could he stay healthy? The Cubs felt like they had a diminishing asset on their hands when they executed the Wade Davis trade at the winter meetings. Soler opened the season on the disabled list with an oblique injury.

"I would hope that they would really appreciate the fact that they both got a World Series ring," Maddon said. "That's a nice conclusion to your time in Chicago. The group that we had out there playing last year — I think that they understood what we had going on and why at the time. "Jason had a great season — 15 wins last year — and again it's just a matter of keeping Georgie out there as often as we possibly could. George the previous year made quite a dent in the (playoffs). I think both of them — regardless of their participation in the World Series — have to take that ring as an indication of all the good stuff they did as a Cub. "If you're altruistic in regards to your method in being part of a team, then you accept that ring and understand that you're a part of something a little bit bigger than yourself. "They're all big boys. They understand how it goes." During a conversation in spring training, Hammel said his family plans to keep their house in Lakeview and would be open to the idea of a return at some point in the future. "I loved my time as a Cub," Hammel said. "And who knows? Maybe I finish out there in the bullpen at the end (of my career). I don't hold grudges. I'm certainly not going to burn a bridge. "I'm very happy. We won the World Series. And now I get to go try and do it with another team that's very capable of doing it." -- CSNChicago.com Ex-Cub Travis Wood Makes Himself At Home Around Wrigley Field By Patrick Mooney Manager Joe Maddon had flashbacks on Monday afternoon seeing ex-Cub Travis Wood hanging out in the food room inside Wrigley Field's underground clubhouse. "The weird thing about that is it's like he belongs here," Maddon said. "It's not even weird. There's nothing awkward about it. That's not normal. When a guy from another team walks into your locker room — even though he may have been with you in the past — it's still awkward. But it's not with him. "Travis walked in, it's like: 'OK, how do you feel for today?'" Wood — who made 77 relief appearances last season — was not available to face the Milwaukee Brewers or participate in any Maddon experiments. But an off-day for the Kansas City Royals allowed Wood, pitcher Jason Hammel and outfielder Jorge Soler to put on gold-trimmed Cubs jerseys and get their championship rings during a pregame ceremony. Even though the Royals will be on the South Side next week playing the White Sox. "We could've waited until then," Wood said. "Hats off to this organization for being able to put the effort in and make it work out to where we could have it here. It's pretty special." A clubhouse creature of habit, Wood did anything to help the team win, going from All-Star starter to trusted lefty reliever, playing five innings in left field last season and hitting five home runs in a Cubs uniform. Always succinct in his answers to the media, Wood showed a different side around teammates — just look at the video-board montage that showed him riding shirtless in the championship parade through the streets of Chicago. "His personality really draws you in," Maddon said. "He is a wonderful teammate. He is easy to be with. He's so supportive of everybody around him. He's got all those attributes that you're looking for within a group setting. I guess the timeframe hasn't been that long that we haven't seen him here, so it was very easy to say hello to him."

Wearing jeans and cowboy boots, Wood checked out the new bullpen beneath the bleachers and chatted with old teammates in the outfield during batting practice. But to really see how much has changed around this team, just check out the lineup from his Cubs debut on May 6, 2012, a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field in the middle of a 101-loss season that led to the Kris Bryant draft pick: David DeJesus, RF Tony Campana, CF Starlin Castro, SS Bryan LaHair, 1B Alfonso Soriano, LF Joe Mather, 3B Darwin Barney, 2B Welington Castillo, C The Cubs stayed in contact with Wood's agent throughout the offseason but decided to conserve resources for the trade deadline and create opportunities for younger relievers to emerge. By the middle of February, the 2015 World Series champs finalized a two-year, $12 million contract with a player who will always be remembered as part of the Cubs. "It was a long journey," Wood said. "To still be around to see the payoff is something I'll cherish." -- CSNChicago.com Here's Why Cubs Fans Should Stop Freaking Out About The Bullpen By Tony Andracki There seems to be an epidimic going around Major League Baseball in the first two weeks of the 2017 season and the Cubs are right in the middle of it. Bullpens are struggling at an alarming rate, as MLB Network Radio pointed out Monday morning: MLB teams are converting just over 60 percent of save opportunities and bullpen ERAs for the entire league sit at 4.10. So it's not just the Cubs, who struggled holding leads over the weekend as the bullpen gave up 11 runs in 5.1 innings Saturday and Sunday. The Cubs have converted just two of their six save opportunities, but there are four other teams struggling just as badly — Rangers, Mariners, Blue Jays and Marlins. So what does this all mean? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It's two weeks into the season. No great claims can be made with 150 games left until the playoffs start. The Cubs bullpen is packed with veteran depth and talent and history strongly indicates they should be able to right the ship. Pedro Strop has allowed four runs and eight baserunners in four innings so far this season, but he has a 3.30 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in his career, including a 2.68 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 232 games in a Cubs uniform prior to this season. Justin Grimm has a 9.53 ERA in 5.2 innings in 2017 but he came into the year with a 3.29 ERA in 213 games with the Cubs.

Koji Uehara allowed three runs (two earned) without recording an out Sunday but prior to that, he hadn't allowed a run since last July, which was the longest streak in the big leagues among relief pitchers. Brian Duensing struggled Saturday after being activated off the disabled list but he's only thrown two innings so far. Beyond that, Wade Davis and Carl Edwards Jr. have yet to give up a run in a combined 10 innings and have allowed just four hits. Hector Rondon (1.69 ERA) and Mike Montgomery (3.00 ERA) have also been effective in small samples. Point is, it's too early to freak out about anything with the Cubs, even if they are only .500 (6-6) entering play Monday. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs look to Brett Anderson to bust 4-game slump By Mark Gonzales Cubs manager Joe Maddon believes left-hander Brett Anderson's best days are ahead of him, which might be a blessing for a team trying to snap a four-game losing streak. Anderson has allowed only one run in his two starts but hopes to pitch deeper than he did on April 7, when he went 5 2/3 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers team he will face Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. "From spring training to now, his stuff keeps getting better," Maddon said. "I don't think he’s put it together yet for us. You haven't seen him with all cylinders clicking. I like that he’s been competing with less than his best stuff to this point. He’s shown flashes of it. He just hasn’t been consistent throughout. "So when you see an overabundance of ground ball outs and he’s pitching easily into the sixth inning, you know he’s on that day. And I anticipate that more often." Anderson's fastball climbed to 92 mph in his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, when he pitched five scoreless innings but leaned heavily on his defense. "Maybe it's just a command issue," Maddon said. "It's not as good as it can be or he thinks he can be." -- Chicago Tribune Cubs may not be dominating like 2016, but no one should be concerned By Paul Sullivan After the Cubs fell to 6-6 on Sunday following a sweep by the Pirates, a headline on ESPN.com asked, "Are the .500 Cubs an average team?" Two weeks into the 2017 season is a little early to assume the World Series champs have fallen on hard times, but there definitely are areas that need to be cleaned up. Going into Monday night's 6-3 loss to the Brewers, the bullpen had blown four saves after blowing 15 all of last season, the offense was 14th in the majors with a .240 average and the Cubs' 11 errors were tied for third-most. When an attendant accidentally locked manager Joe Maddon's keys in his truck, it was a perfect metaphor for the Cubs' stalled start.

"It's always something," Anthony Rizzo said. "Nothing is ever perfect on any team. Guys are going to have good days, guys are going to have bad days. ... It's just the game of baseball." No one should be too concerned. After all, the starting pitchers were second in the majors with a 2.56 ERA, and the offense isn't likely to struggle for long with so many solid hitters on the roster. The bullpen? We'll see. This early lack of domination could be a good thing in the long run. The 2016 Cubs faced little adversity on their way to the postseason, going on cruise control by August so Maddon could rest guys down the stretch. A real race would be welcomed, especially if it included the young Brewers and was able to rekindle a sagging rivalry. "Could you imagine that postseason series?" Brewers first baseman Eric Thames said. "It's like Cubs at home or Cubs at the other home." There's no user manual for fans to tell them how to react during the first season after ending a 107-year drought. Can there ever be a "tough loss" again after you've fulfilled your lifetime dream? Should the "L" flag be retired for good? After the Red Sox ended their 85-year drought in 2004, then-general manager Theo Epstein said: "Everyone thought when the Red Sox won the World Series, it wouldn't be the same. It just enhanced the experience for everyone." The enhanced Cubs experience has felt like a daily celebration of banner-raising and ring-giving. One Cubs executive even had one of those gold-lettered jerseys made for himself, as though he played. Epstein, to his credit, has low-keyed his part, as he did during the Red Sox ring ceremony in '05, when he declined to go on the field with the players. His name was not even mentioned during the Red Sox's 45-minute ceremony. Of course, he was still learning to deal with being a local celebrity then and had starred in his first local TV commercial — a Dunkin' Donuts ad in which Epstein made long-haired outfielder Johnny Damon give up his iced latte to conceal the "truth" that Damon actually was bald. Critics lauded Epstein's comic timing. "I act a lot when I talk to the media," he explained when the commercial aired. Epstein hasn't shown up in any ads since the Cubs' title, though he certainly could cash in if he wanted. Many of his players are enjoying their moment in the sun, and more power to them. Kris Bryant and Jake Arrieta will appear in the Season 5 finale of "Chicago Fire" on May 16, in which a young Cubs fan gets in an accident, comes to Wrigley Field to feel better and meets Arrieta and Bryant, who play themselves. "Chicago Fire" star Taylor Kinney asked them at the Cubs Convention if they wanted to do cameos, and their scenes were filmed a few days ago. "It was almost like being ourselves," Bryant said. "I wouldn't call it too much acting. It was so easy. "When I'm old, I want to sit back and say I did everything. I'm doing it all, man, because it may never happen again." Hopefully the Cubs duo can meet the thespian standards set by former Dodgers pitchers Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax. Drysdale memorably counseled a young Greg Brady in an episode of "The Brady Bunch," while Koufax once pitched to Mr. Ed.

"Mr. Ed?" Bryant said. "I don't know who Mr. Ed is." Mr. Ed, the talking horse? Hello? "C'mon, make me feel bad." It's a shame kids today don't know the classics. -- Chicago Tribune John Lackey falls behind early as Cubs skid reaches four vs. Brewers By Mark Gonzales Successful bunts Monday night by sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo give opponents another factor to consider when playing the Cubs, manager Joe Maddon said. But after a 6-3 loss to the Brewers extended their losing streak to four games and dropped them under .500 for the second time this season, the Cubs realize opponents are aiming for them immediately. "I don't remember what our record was at the beginning of the year," losing pitcher John Lackey said in response to a question about the Cubs' 25-6 start last season. "People are going to come here gunning for us, for sure. We're world champs, and people want to come here and play well. We're going to have to match that intensity and play better." The Cubs (6-7) have their longest losing streak since dropping five straight July 5-9. Despite losing four consecutive home games for the first time since May 2014, they recognize it's too early to fret over their recent skid. "Losing is not our strong suit, you would say, as baseball players," said Schwarber, whose bunt hit the third-base bag and foiled a defensive shift. "We want to put in team at-bats, team defense and end up with a win. It stinks, but we have to turn the page. "It happened to us last year before the All-Star break. We hit the skids. Maybe we're hitting it early. It's super early in the season. Like I said, no panic." Lackey shared Schwarber's thoughts. "It's too early to panic right now," Lackey said. "We've got a lot of talent on this team. We'll get into it a little bit here. "The last 10 years or so, I break the season up into quarters. (When we) get to 40 to 50 games, we'll see where we're at then. Right now, it's pretty early." But it's not too early to shore up some costly deficiencies. The bullpen woes continued as Mike Montgomery allowed two runs in the eighth. Catcher Willson Contreras committed a throwing error that allowed the Brewers to score their final run in the eighth and change the complexion of the ninth after the Cubs' first two runners reached base. "We have to do a better job in the latter part of the game," Maddon said. "Even if it's a deficit, keep it a small deficit." Lackey was tagged for three home runs, starting with a two-run shot by Ryan Braun and concluding with a solo shot by Eric Thames — marking the fifth consecutive game in which he has homered.

Schwarber wasn't bashful about attempting a bunt in the first to spark a rally. "If it's wide open in that spot, I'll take it," he said. "It's only going to help us. With everyone shifting, it might open up something down the road." Cubs sluggers practice bunting in spring training and are given the green light to do so if the defense allows it. Rizzo executed a bunt single in the fifth and stole second, only to be picked off by winning pitcher Chase Anderson. -- Chicago Tribune Travis Wood walks down memory lane with Cubs By Mark Gonzales Travis Wood said he would wear his World Series ring only for special occasions, but returning to Wrigley Field brought back fond memories for the former Cubs left-hander. “Last year was one to remember, for sure,” Wood said Monday after checking out the new bullpen under the left field stands and before receiving his ring with Royals teammates Jason Hammel and Jorge Soler. Wood said he watched his former teammates receive their rings last Wednesday but showed no bitterness over the fact he and the Cubs moved on in different directions last winter. “That’s just part of the game,” Wood said. “With the way the game is, it’s a business and being a free agent, the way it turned out, they put in the work and made it so we can get it here is unbelievable.” Wood was accompanied by his wife Brittany, whom President Theo Epstein thanked two months ago for playing an instrumental role in the team’s charity events during their five seasons with the Cubs. “It was a long journey,” Wood said. “To be around to see the payoff is something I’ll cherish.” Maddon said it wasn’t awkward to see Wood in the Cubs’ dining room before the game. “When a guy from another team walks into your locker room, even if he’s been with you in the past, it’s still awkward, but it’s not,” Maddon said. “Travis walked in. It’s like, “how do you feel for today?” It’s very normal. I’m happy we’re doing it this way.” -- Chicago Tribune First base bag from World Series Game 7 sells for $101,237 By Phil Rosenthal A piece of lightly used athletic equipment, a few months old, sold for $101,237 on Monday night. The item was the base on which the Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo recorded the final out of the 2016 World Series to give the long-frustrated ballclub its first championship since 1908. The price, recorded on MLB Auctions’ site, was the culmination of a week-long online sale. A flurry of late offers among four bidders jockeying for the lead added more than $24,000 to the price in the final 22 minutes of the online auction, according to the bidding history. The apparent winner was identified in that history only as “jakejfl.”

Authenticated as first base used during the ninth and 10th innings of Game 7 last fall in Cleveland, the bag was the most sought-after item among the bases, baseballs and other items showcased by MLB Auctions in what almost certainly will not be the last public sale of game-used World Series memorabilia. Just to give a sense of how committed some are to securing a piece of the historic Cubs-Indians World Series: A baseball the Cubs’ Javier Baez hit into a ground out in the second inning of Game 6 was recorded going for $7,890. Other sample items included first base from the third and fourth inning of Game 2, which went for $16,675, and the Cubs’ on-deck circle from Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 in Cleveland, which sold for $40,425. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' David Ross needs jump-start on 'Dancing with the Stars' By Tracy Swartz Warning: Spoilers ahead David Ross may need a spring tuneup, but the retired Cubs catcher survived another week on "Dancing with the Stars." Ross, 40, and partner Lindsay Arnold danced the jive to a live performance of "Ride" by ZZ Ward from the upcoming movie "Cars 3" for the ABC competition's Disney night. Before he danced, Ross complained about his body aches and compared the pain to playing baseball in August. "Mentally and physically, this is hard," Ross said during practice. He donned a red jumpsuit and pulled it together for the performance, which earned 29 out of 40 points from the judges. As usual, they praised Ross' energy and charisma, but criticized his footwork. Judge Julianne Hough said Ross' top half was exceptional, but he was flatfooted. "You did not miss a step, so well done with that," judge Carrie Ann Inaba said. Though he earned the lowest score of the week among his competitors, Ross said he was happy with his dance. He found out before he performed that he was safe from elimination this week, and the network also showed his wife and kids cheering him on from home. Meanwhile, former Chicago resident Nick Viall and Peta Murgatroyd, who danced to "I've Got No Strings" from "Pinocchio," earned 34 out of 40 points as judges praised Viall's breakthrough performance. "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Erika Girardi and Gleb Savchenko were eliminated from the competition based on judges scores and viewer votes. Eight couples remain on Season 24 of "Dancing with the Stars," which airs at 7 p.m. Mondays. In the meantime, Ross and Arnold are set to appear on Thursday's episode of Ellen DeGeneres' daytime show. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs Q&A: Bullpen woes, Willson Contreras, Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist By Mark Gonzales The Tribune's Mark Gonzales answers readers' Cubs questions about Willson Contreras' development, the status of the bullpen and the future of hitting coach John Mallee.

I’ve been very impressed with Willson Contreras' techniques, especially his blocking, his pitch framing, and his energy behind the plate. Mike Borzello deserves a ton of credit for teaching the latest techniques, and Contreras for learning them. I predict he will greatly reduce trips to the mound by mid-season, and also not make an off-balance throw when he does not need to. I love a catcher who blocks pitches with nobody on base. -- Jim K. As Contreras gets more comfortable with his starters, you’ll see fewer trips. And you nailed it on the education Mike Borzello provides not only to the catchers but to the rest of the players, who would be dumb not to listen to him or seek advice from him. Is this bullpen going to hold up? – Todd K. No, but I think every executive goes into the regular season knowing they’ll need reinforcements if they’re going to contend for a playoff berth. In the case of the Cubs, Pedro Strop, Justin Grimm and Hector Rondon have been used quite a bit over the past three seasons. It’s fully understandable, since the Cubs have gone deep into the postseason the past two seasons and those relievers have had varying degrees of success during the past three seasons. The question is where can they get reinforcements from other than left-hander Rob Zastryzny and Felix Pena? Left-hander David Rollins has some major league experience, but Pierce Johnson is in his first full season as a reliever. The thought here is that Carl Edwards Jr. will play a more prominent role as long as he can limit his bouts of wildness. If Ben Zobrist declines offensively, is he the odd man out as the year goes on? – Andrew C. I can’t see that unless Addison Russell develops to the point where he can handle the cleanup duties. Ben stabilizes the lineup as a switch hitter in the middle of the lineup, and Joe Maddon loves to create problems for opposing managers in late-inning situations. What's going to happen when Carl Edwards Jr. returns now that Duensing is here? Tommy La Stella to Triple-A Iowa? – Heidi B. Before Edwards went on the bereavement list, he had to pitch two innings Thursday because the pen was thin. I think there’s a greater need for a 13th pitcher right now, and Maddon has had trouble finding a place for Matt Szczur and Tommy La Stella to get starts. With Jon Jay not getting that many at-bats, I’d say that La Stella would be most likely to go to Iowa since he has minor league options and would get regular at-bats there. This Cubs offense relies on a heavy on-base percentage. If they maintain this in 2017, are strikeouts a non-factor for the offense? – Jacob M. Not necessarily. I believe there are times when strikeouts are more acute than other times. There are two interesting schools of thought when it comes to putting the ball in play vs. striking out. I’ve always been a firm believer in putting the ball in play, although some scoff (understandably) about the fear of grounding into double plays and killing rallies. Why does Joe Maddon think not playing Albert Almora Jr. is a good idea? It seems obvious he does not trust his skills. He should have rested Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber or Javier Baez on Sunday. If he had not won the World Series, he would be getting a ton of flak for how he is managing so far. It seems like Zobrist has played 12 to 13 consecutive games (including Houston). – Rick L

I’d expect Zobrist to get more rest soon. He’s played 11 of 12 games, and there are some day games following some night games coming up shortly. The Cubs didn’t face Clayton Kershaw last week, or else Schwarber likely would have received a rest. I still think he’ll get a break shortly. As for Almora, yes, there’s a strong case for him to play more. But I also thought that Jon Jay would start a few more games. I equate this situation to the college basketball coach who has so many top freshmen but also possesses a strong veteran class returning and trying to find time for all of them. Maddon has said in the past that unfortunately injuries can help resolve this, but I think we’ll continue to see a revolving door. Keep in mind that the Cubs have some rough stretches later in the first half, so rest will be essential. With the chance of this being Jake Arrieta's last season in Chicago, is there any chance the Cubs jump into the Jose Quintana sweepstakes? – Arturo C. Anything is possible, but I’d expect the White Sox to ask for an extravagant package of players (and wouldn’t blame them), considering that Quintana is under contract for several years. Given the landscape of both teams, it would have to be a slam dunk for the White Sox to consider dealing with the Cubs. But the White Sox did pretty well in gathering prospects for Chris Sale and Adam Eaton. Could you foresee a point in the season where Maddon elects to not put Schwarber at the leadoff spot? I love his bat, and so far things seem to be working. But wouldn't it make since to put someone with more speed in that leadoff spot? If he were to hit a slump and the on-base percentage started dropping, who could Maddon go to? -- Lucas C. When Dexter Fowler hurt his hamstring last season, Ben Zobrist batted in the leadoff spot, but his production sank dramatically. Jon Jay could handle the leadoff duties on a part-time basis. I think Joe may have a trick up his sleeve if something were to happen to Schwarber. But keep in mind that Schwarber at the leadoff spot, followed by Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, is a heck of a challenge for starting pitchers in the first inning. When are they going to realize John Mallee is the problem! I have been saying this since his hiring! Yes, we won the World Series, but these first two weeks of the season are great example of this offense is the only thing that will hold this team back! Too many good players struggling! No .300 hitters, either! Enough is enough! Fire Mallee and hire someone proven to be a good hitting coach! -- Josh B. I wouldn’t judge a hitting coach on only the first 12 games of the regular season. John has had talented hitters to work with, but they’re still young. In fact, I’d give him some credit for the fact that they’ve cut down their strikeout total from 2015 to 2016. Sure, some of it has to do with the addition of Zobrist, but Bryant made remarkable strides in 2016. -- Chicago Tribune With Carl Edwards Jr. back, Cubs might stick with eight-man bullpen By Mark Gonzales Carrying eight relievers could become a permanent part of the Cubs roster. "It's definitely a possibility," manager Joe Maddon said Monday after reliever Carl Edwards Jr. was activated from the bereavement list. "We're looking at what's going on more recently, and it's something we pondered (since) spring training. It's definitely being discussed."

Edwards takes the roster spot of left-handed-hitting infielder Tommy La Stella, who was placed on the bereavement list after his grandmother died. This marks the first time this season the Cubs are carrying eight relievers, but developments in the past week indicate they could opt for a 13-man pitching staff, which they employed for nearly all of 2016. Before going on the bereavement list, Edwards had to pitch two innings Thursday because of a taxed bullpen. "Having (Edwards) back definitely makes a difference," Maddon said. The Cubs will make an official decision when La Stella returns. A player must stay on the bereavement list for a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven. Familiar ring: Left-hander Travis Wood appreciated that the Cubs brought him and Royals teammates Jason Hammel and Jorge Soler to Wrigley Field to receive their World Series rings in a pregame ceremony. "Hats off to this organization for being able to make it work out so we could have it here and make it special," said Wood, who hugged several ex-teammates and checked out the bullpen under the left-field bleachers before the game. There were no signs of bitterness from Hammel or Soler, who played limited to no roles in the World Series. "I would hope they would both appreciate the fact they both got a World Series ring," Maddon said. "That's a nice conclusion to your time in Chicago. I think they understood what we had going on and why at the time." Maddon pointed out that Hammel won 15 games during the regular season and Soler made an impact in the National League playoffs. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs lose 6-3 to Brewers; first four-game skid since July By Gordon Wittenmyer Red alert? More like Life Alert for the Cubs. They’ve fallen and they can’t get up. All right, all right. It’s only mid-April. It’s stupid to draw any big-picture conclusions after 13 games. Not with 149 games remaining, no matter how sloppy they looked at times in a 6-3 loss to the Brewers on Monday night at Wrigley Field. “People are probably talking [crap] about our bullpen. People are probably talking [crap] about our bats,” reliever Justin Grimm said. “But we know how good we are. You look around this room, and everybody’s more than capable of doing their job, on a consistent basis as well. I wouldn’t even say we had a rough couple weeks. I’d just say a rough series.” In fact, the Cubs won their first three series, including the first two on the road. And nobody who has watched baseball would have reasonably expected the kind of wire-to-wire race to the promised land the Cubs experienced last year. About the only thing that is certain is that repeating won’t be easy.

The Cubs’ fourth consecutive loss dropped them to 6-7 — the first time they’ve had a losing record even this late into a season since their last-place finish in 2014. They’ve been out-homered 8-2 over the last three games. “We’re 12 or 13 games into the season. We’re competitors, and we want to win every game, but it’s baseball,” said center fielder Albert Almora Jr., whose two-run double in the second tied the game briefly. “We’ll be fine.” Brewers first baseman Eric Thames was the star Monday. He doubled and scored in the first, homered in the third and singled and scored in the eighth. “I didn’t necessarily see that kind of pop out of him [earlier in his career],” manager Joe Maddon said. “Right now he’s definitely scary every time he swings the bat. Give it to him. He really has made himself into a more dangerous looking hitter. That swing is very lethal.” Unlike their three-game sweep at the hands of the Pirates over the weekend, the Cubs didn’t wait for the bullpen to give up the damage. Starter John Lackey was tagged for Ryan Braun’s two-run homer into the left-field wind in the first, Jett Bandy’s solo shot near the same place in the second and Thames’ shot just to the left of those in the third. Lackey regrouped to finish six innings without allowing another run and left trailing 4-3. Lefty Mike Montgomery allowed two more in the eighth, one with the help of a throwing error by catcher Willson Contreras after Braun stole third on an unaware Montgomery. “It’s too early to panic about anything right now,” Lackey said. “We’ve got obviously a lot of talent on this team. The last 10 years or so, I kind of break the season up in quarters. Until you get to about 40, 50 games, we’ll see where we’re at then. Right now it’s pretty early.” The Cubs didn’t endure their seventh loss of the season last year until May. “Obviously, it stinks,” Kyle Schwarber said. “But we have to turn the page. It happened to us right before the All-Star break last year, we hit a skid. There’s no panic. We know that we’re a good baseball team, and we’ll bounce back.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Carl Edwards Jr.’s return bumps Cub pen to 8, where it could stay By Gordon Wittenmyer A bullpen that struggled over the weekend in the sweep against the Pirates got its best pitcher back Monday when Carl Edwards Jr. returned from the bereavement list. “Having him back is definitely going to make a big difference,” manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s obviously well rested. For the most part I think everybody’s back in decent order right now.” In the short term, Edwards’ return after a death in the family means an extra man in the bullpen for the Cubs, who placed infielder Tommy La Stella on the bereavement list following the death of his grandmother. That buys the Cubs up to seven days before they’ll have to make another move. And Maddon suggested the eight-man bullpen might stick around. “We’re considering it. It’s definitely a possibility,” said Maddon, who seemed to be leaning toward opening the season with the larger pitching staff until deciding to keep both La Stella and outfielder Matt Szczur. The bullpen has blown half of its save opportunities during the first two weeks of the season, including leads in all three games against the Pirates, and hasn’t come close to meeting expectations.

“Looking at what’s been going on more recently and being something we pondered for spring training also, it’s definitely being discussed,” Maddon said of the eight-man bullpen. The Cubs activated left-hander Brian Duensing (back spasms) from the disabled list for the Pirates series when Edwards left. Before that, the Cubs were 4-1 in games that Edwards pitched, and he hadn’t allowed a run. Because he has minor-league options (and Szczur doesn’t), La Stella could be the odd-man out if the Cubs decide to go with the extra pitcher. “Getting Carl back really helps at the backside of the whole thing,” Maddon said. “I thought Duensing looked really good. Koji [Uehara’s] been outstanding. I’m honestly not concerned at all. “Part of it is just spread them out, get them in comfortable roles, make sure we don’t overuse anybody. I don’t think we have to this point, but I don’t want to. I like the way our guys look right now. We’ve just got to get them out there at the right times.” Royal treatment The Royals’ scheduled off day Monday gave the Cubs the opportunity to fly in three of last year’s players to receive their World Series rings in a ceremony before Monday’s game: outfielder Jorge Soler and pitchers Jason Hammel and Travis Wood. Wood was the longest tenured member of the champion Cubs team before signing with the Royals as a free agent. Wood was traded to the Cubs for Sean Marshall in a four-player deal with the Reds in one of Theo Epstein’s first trades in Chicago. Then he and Anthony Rizzo became part of that 101-loss team in 2012 before surviving to contribute to last year’s 103-win season and championship. “It was a long journey,” Wood said. “To be able to still be around to see the payoff is something I’ll cherish.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs are handing out World Series rings — but there’s a catch By Stefano Esposito and Mitchell Armentrout The Cubs organization is handing out World Series Championship rings to players and other employees, describing the bling as a “priceless memento of the greatest championship quest in all of sports.” In fact, each ring does have a price — $1, to be precise — even though appraisers say they could fetch anywhere from $50,000 to $250,000 on the open market. That’s because the rings come with strings attached. The Cubs are discouraging ring recipients from selling the hardware. But if they get the urge, the Cubs reserve the right to buy each ring back for $1, according to a memo the organization is asking each ring recipient — including players — to sign. A copy of the memo was obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times. “We regret the formal nature of this memo, and we do not intend for this information to overshadow our joy in being able to provide this ring to you,” the memo states. “However, we think it is important to communicate this information to you.”

Those planning to sell “or otherwise transfer your ring,” must give the Cubs written notice of “the proposed transaction and a complete accounting of the terms.” There’s more: “If the Cubs elect not to purchase the ring, then you may transfer it according to the terms you provided to the Cubs; however, each subsequent owner shall also be bound by these terms in the event of a subsequent proposed sale or other transfer.” The memo makes an exception for rings that are given as gifts — say to a child, spouse or grandchild. The edict was met with scorn by some of the players who won the team’s first championship in 108 years, and at least two of them said they wouldn’t sign the agreement, sources told the Sun-Times. A team member who won multiple titles with another organization said he never was asked to agree to such conditions. Some players also noted that they still might have to pay taxes on the rings, even though they would have no resale value to them. Julian Green, a Cubs spokesman, said the organization isn’t doing anything unusual. “We did do research of other teams and this is not an uncommon practice,” Green said, adding, “This was a very generous offering by the Ricketts family, and we want it to be cherished. We hope people would want to keep and cherish this ring, versus using it as a saleable asset.” Green said the Cubs are in the process of distributing some 2,000 rings to full-time, part-time and seasonal staff. He would not discuss the value of the rings, adding, there are “different tiers” of rings. The rings handed out to players last week — and designed with their input — feature 108 diamonds — marking the 108 years between World Series titles for the Cubs. The manufacturer, Jostens, is selling a version to fans online — for $10,800. A star player like Kris Bryant or Anthony Rizzo could sell his ring for upward of $250,000, said Ken Goldin, an expert sports memorabilia auctioneer. Less prominent players could still rack up more than $100,000, though prices tend to decline after the first ring hits the market, Goldin said. Rings given to team employees would be worth about $50,000 in a Cub-crazed town, according to Goldin, who said he had never heard of a championship team trying to control what recipients did with their rings. “It’s a horrible policy,” Goldin said. “Baseball careers are fleeting. For a lot of the guys, the ring becomes their nest egg. What about the 55-year-old staffer who needs to pad their retirement money down the road?” If an employee is in a financial bind, Green said, “there may be some assistance the organization can provide before it came to selling the ring.” Back in 2005, when the White Sox won it all, the organization also handed out diamond-studded rings — 432 of them, said White Sox spokesman Scott Reifert. But the rings didn’t come with strings attached. “It was viewed as a gift to the employees,” Reifert said. And the rings — whether for players or staff — were of equal value, Reifert said. Reifert said he’s heard of a couple of instances of people selling their rings online — including one in 2013, with an asking price of about $25,000. --

Daily Herald Chicago Cubs' losing streak hits 4 By Bruce Miles Anthony Rizzo had a two-word answer to questions about the "slow start" the Chicago Cubs are off to in 2017. "It's baseball," the first baseman said before Monday night's 6-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Rizzo then expanded on those two words. "It's baseball, and you go with that all the time," he said. "When things are going really good or things are going really bad, it's the game of baseball. We go out every day and play the best we can and the hardest we can." The Cubs are up against their 25-6 start of last year, which was the beginning of the ride to a World Series championship. The loss to the Brewers was the Cubs' fourth in a row and dropped them to 6-7. "People are going to come in here gunning for us, for sure," said starting pitcher John Lackey (1-2), who pitched 6 innings and gave up 7 hits and 4 runs. "We're world champs, and people want to come and play well. And we're going to have to match that intensity and have to play better." Manager Joe Maddon said he agreed with Rizzo's assessment. "It's pretty much like he said," Maddon answered. "I totally agree with that. When you go 6-6 in the middle of the year, nobody notices. It's a nice road trip at times. You go on a 10-day road trip and you go 5-5, nice road trip. "I think you're going to see more consistent hitting as we move it along. I talked about it early on, it takes about a month to figure out your bullpen. We're still in the process of getting everybody comfortable out there. So I think as the hitting peaks a little bit more, which it will, and we really establish getting the bullpen guys comfortable, that's when we're really going to take off." Brewers batters made baseballs take off early. Even with the temperature at 45 degrees with a chilly north wind blowing in from left field, Ryan Braun was able to launch a 2-run homer in the first after Eric Thames doubled with one out. The Cubs got an unearned run against Chase Anderson in the bottom of the inning before Jeff Bandy led off the second with a homer for the Brewers. Albert Almora Jr.'s 2-run double tied it in the bottom half before Thames hit his seventh homer of the season to start the third. Thames has homered in five consecutive games, tying the Milwaukee franchise mark, which he shares with Jeromy Burnitz. If there's anything that is bothering Maddon, it's the late innings of games. The Brewers scored 2 runs, 1 unearned, in the eighth to increase a 4-3 lead to 6-3. "We have to do a better job in the latter part of the game, even if it's a deficit, to keep it a small deficit," he said. -- Daily Herald Constable: Old Cub favorites get rings By Burt Constable Just when you thought the Chicago Cubs were done celebrating last year's championship, they open the door to some former players who may have dropped out of sight but never out of our hearts. Chances are good that one of your favorite players from an earlier Cubs era will be back in town Wednesday to receive a World Series ring. For me, that means Glenn Beckert, the Cubs' All-Star second-baseman who played from 1965 through 1973. Others who will be receiving alumni rings during the festivities surrounding Wednesday afternoon's game at

Wrigley Field against the Milwaukee Brewers include Randy Hundley (the catcher for the 1969 Cubs), Jose Cardenal (the popular playmaker of the Cubs teams in the 1970s), Lee Smith (the closer for the Cubs of the 1980s), Jody Davis (the catcher on those 1980s Cubs teams), Bob Dernier (the leadoff man for the 1984 Cubs), Steve Trout (the unconventional lefty who came from the White Sox just in time to pitch the Cubs into the 1984 playoffs) and Scott Sanderson (a starting pitcher who was part of the rotation during two playoff runs in the 1980s). The Cubs already have given 2016 World Series rings to Hall of Famers who never made it to the championship arena as players, with presentations to Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins and Ryne Sandberg. The franchise awarded rings posthumously to fellow Hall of Famers Ernie Banks and Ron Santo. But players who don't have those Hall of Fame numbers still can earn a top spot with fans, who remember warm, fun feelings even if we forget the cold, hard stats. How these players made us feel is the key. "Every fan has their favorite players growing up, but Cubs fans are fortunate to have an ongoing relationship with these alumni, thanks to their continued involvement with the team through events like Cubs Convention, Cubs Caravan community tour, 7th inning stretch, ceremonial first pitches and more," emails Julian Green, the Cubs vice president of communications and community affairs. "The team considered number of years spent with the team during both a player's on-field career as well as their active post-career involvement, including number of Cubs Conventions attended, when awarding alumni rings." For many fans old enough to remember the 1969 Cubs, Beckert was our guy. Actor Joel Murray, a brother of Bill Murray, says he was a Beckert guy. A second baseman for most of my baseball-playing days, I was such a Beckert fan that I successfully lobbied my high school baseball coach to give me Beckert's No. 18. My first computer password at the Daily Herald was Beckert, I once traded a Ken Griffey Jr. rookie baseball card for a Beckert rookie card, and a Beckert baseball card still occupies a spot in my newsroom cubicle. At a 1993 baseball banquet featuring former ballplayers, I got to sit next to my idol. He couldn't have been nicer. When he was given a plaque with his first name misspelled as "Glen," I was about to make a fuss, but Beckert silenced me with a simple look and then explained that he didn't want to embarrass the organizers. Beckert got his chance with the Cubs because 1962 Rookie of the Year Ken Hubbs was killed in a plane crash after the 1963 season. Beckert, 24, started the 1965 season as the Cubs' second baseman and held down that spot until he was traded to the San Diego Padres before the 1974 season. He rarely belted homers, hardly ever struck out, hit .342 in 1971 and won a Gold Glove for his fielding in 1968. But many of my Beckert memories were made as a boy in our barnyard spending hours hitting rocks toward the barn, pretending to be him. In my pretend games, Beckert rarely launched a homer onto the roof, but he peppered the barn door with so many singles that our cows must have feared my kid voice proclaiming, "And now Beckert steps up to the plate." An old Cub is a time machine to fun moments in fans' lives. That's worth a ring. -- Daily Herald Chicago Cubs happy to welcome back three friends By Bruce Miles If you ask Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon, there was nothing at all odd about seeing former Cubs lefty Travis Wood in the clubhouse Monday. Wood, now a member of the Kansas City Royals, was invited back by the Cubs to be awarded his World Series ring. He joined fellow Royals teammates and ex-Cubs Jason Hammel and Jorge Soler in a pregame ceremony, presided over by Maddon, team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer. All three players wore Cubs jerseys.

"Love it," Maddon said. "I just saw Travis in the food room. The weird thing about that is he belongs here. There's nothing awkward about it. That's not normal. When a guy from another team walks in your locker room, even though he may have been with you in the past, it's still awkward. But it's not with (Wood). "I haven't seen the other guys, and I'm sure it's going to feel the same way with Jason and Jorge. Travis walked in. It's like, 'OK, how do you feel for today?' That kind of a thing. Very, very normal. Happy we're doing it. Happy we're doing it this way." Wood met with Chicago reporters before the game in the Cubs' dugout. "Last year is one to remember, for sure," he said. "I don't think anybody will forget it. I sure won't. It was fun. "Seeing the guys and all the 'hi's' and 'miss you's' was pretty special." Wood added he wasn't sure if he would get emotional during the ceremony. The Cubs obtained him at the start of their rebuilding process after the 2011 season. He went to the Royals last off-season as a free agent. "Who knows, because I did see that, especially the guys who were invested and put in a lot of time," he said. "(Anthony) Rizzo was here pretty much throughout the whole thing. Regardless, it's going to be awesome. It was a long journey. To see the payoff, to be able to still be here to see the payoff is something I'll cherish." Wood was among the most popular players among his teammates during his time in Chicago. "I think it's just a combination of the closeness and just who he is," Maddon said. "His personality really draws you in. He is a wonderful teammate. He is easy to be with. He's so supportive of everybody around him. He's got all those attributes that you're looking for within a group setting." Another roster move: The Cubs activated relief pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. off the bereavement list and placed infielder Tommy La Stella on that same list. La Stella's grandmother died. The move leaves the Cubs with a 13-man pitching staff, something Joe Maddon said the team will consider even after La Stella is activated. If that happens, either La Stella or outfielder Matt Szczur could lose his roster spot. -- Cubs.com Lackey off early as Cubs drop 4th straight By Carrie Muskat and Adam McCalvy CHICAGO -- Before Monday's game, Cubs manager Joe Maddon was happy to hear that the wind was blowing in at Wrigley Field to make the ballpark more pitcher-friendly. It didn't matter to the Brewers and Eric Thames. Thames homered in his fifth consecutive game, finishing with three hits, while Ryan Braun added a two-run blast and an RBI double, and Jett Bandy hit a solo home run to power the Brewers to a 6-3 victory over the Cubs, who lost their fourth in a row. "They punctured it," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of the Brewers' homers into a northerly wind. "That 'oppo' backdoor slider to Thames on a line into the wind -- you don't see that. That's really powerful stuff. We just made too many mistakes to [Braun]. Those two guys were pretty much their offense and that's the game." Thames doubled in the first, homered in the third, grounded out in the fifth and singled in the eighth, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. After playing the past three seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization, he leads the Major Leagues with seven home runs, including six in the past five games.

"I can't even describe it," Thames said. "I was just excited to be back here. I just wanted to see pitching and see how I would adapt to it." John Lackey took the loss, serving up all three Brewers homers, including Thames' solo shot leading off the third. Thames is two home runs shy of the entire Cubs team; they are last in the National League with nine. Last year, the Cubs did not lose back-to-back games in April, and this current streak is one shy of their longest skid of 2016 (five games, July 5-9). "It's too early to panic about anything right now," Lackey said. Milwaukee's Chase Anderson picked up the win, scattering seven hits, including a two-run game-tying double by Albert Almora Jr. in the second. With the win, the Brewers are two games above .500 for the first time since finishing the 2014 season with an 82-80 record. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Unwelcome guest: No one on the Brewers was happier to see Wrigley Field than Braun, who is a career .342 batter at the Cubs' home ballpark. He added to his totals with a two-run homer in the first and an RBI double in the eighth, and has 13 homers in 67 games on the Cubs' home turf. In the first, Braun took two pitches from Lackey, then launched the third into the left-field bleachers. The homer and double raised his career extra-base hit total to 652 to move past Hall of Famer Paul Molitor for second on the Brewers' all-time leaderboard. Hall of Famer Robin Yount holds the club record with 960. "It's unique that Ryan's not getting the attention after a five home run start in the first couple weeks of the season," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "But he's happy with it, I guarantee it." Shifty moves: The Brewers employed a severe defensive shift in the first against leadoff man Kyle Schwarber, who showed off his small-ball skills by bunting for a base hit. Schwarber's ball rolled down the line and was fair until it hit the bag, while Anderson and third baseman Travis Shaw could only watch. That's all Schwarber needed to get to first. Two outs later, he scored on Ben Zobrist's single to center. Anthony Rizzo also countered the Brewers' shift by bunting for a hit with one out in the fifth. He then stole second, but was picked off. "The situation dictated it right there," Schwarber said of his bunt. "We're down two runs and I needed to get on base. If it's wide open in that spot, I'm going to take it." QUOTABLE "I don't remember what our record was at the beginning of last year. People are going to come here gunning for us, for sure. We're the world champs, and people want to come here and play well. We'll have to match that intensity and play better." -- Lackey SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS With Monday's loss, the Cubs are under .500 for only the third time since Maddon took over in 2015. The other two times came on Opening Days (in 2015 and this year). WHAT'S NEXT Brewers: Can Thames keep his home run streak alive against a lefty? That will be the task if he draws a starting assignment against Chicago southpaw Brett Anderson when the series continues Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. CT. Jimmy Nelson starts for Milwaukee.

Cubs: Anderson will make his third start of the season and second against the Brewers. The lefty gave up one run over 5 2/3 innings in their last meeting in Milwaukee. -- Cubs.com Schwarber surprises Crew with 1st bunt hit By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Not only can the Cubs' Kyle Schwarber hit balls to the top of the right-field video board, he can also bunt, and he showed off his small-ball skills in the first inning of Monday night's 6-3 loss to counter the Brewers' defensive shift. Schwarber dropped a perfect bunt down the third-base line that stayed just fair. Brewers pitcher Chase Anderson and third baseman Travis Shaw watched the ball, expecting it to roll foul, but it didn't do so until it hit the third-base bag. That's all the time Schwarber needed to safely reach first. "It was going foul, and then all of a sudden it hugged the line all the way down," Shaw said. "Good grounds crew." Bunting is not something Schwarber does very often. Actually, never. This was his first bunt hit in the Majors. The surprise attack by the Cubs' leadoff man worked as Schwarber scored two outs later on Ben Zobrist's single to center. "The situation dictated it right there," Schwarber said. "We're down two runs and I needed to get on base. If it's wide open in that spot, I'm going to take it. "It's only going to help us with everyone shifting," he said. "It might open up something later on down the road. If it's going to be there, we're going to take it." The Cubs exploited the Brewers' defensive shift again in the fifth when Anthony Rizzo bunted for a base hit. His ball didn't stay as close to the line as Schwarber's did, but was just as effective. "That's on their own," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "We do it in Spring Training. We talk about situations. It's another thing to put in the other team's mind." Brewers manager Craig Counsell said they may make some changes. "The players that are being constantly shifted against are going to adjust, and we have to adjust with them," Counsell said. "You definitely take note of it. But you still get outs on it; we got an out on the shift with [Jason Heyward] in the eighth. You're living and dying with it." Maddon said the Cardinals tried to bunt against the Cubs' shifts, but their balls went more foul than fair. "Sometimes you don't mind when a guy does that," Maddon said. "If [Eric Thames] wants to bunt five times tomorrow, that's fine with me. It's just a matter of the situation." That's not likely regarding Thames, who homered in his fifth straight game Monday, collecting three hits, including a solo blast leading off the third. "I like what Schwarber did," Maddon said of the bunt. "Anderson is kind of a reverse split guy. I was fine with that versus that pitcher. Not every situation is the same. People have a tendency to put every item into the same group of baskets. That's why in our game, you have to understand, this guy is good against lefties, and he's good against us, so go ahead and bunt." --

Cubs.com Cubs unconcerned by recent tough stretch By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Last year, the Cubs went 17-5 in April and didn't have a losing record the entire season. On Monday, they lost their fourth in a row at home, something the Cubs haven't done since May 2014. Maybe there is something to the World Series hangover? "I don't remember what our record was at the beginning of last year," pitcher John Lackey said, dismissing any talk of worry over the slow start. "People are going to come here gunning for us, for sure. We're the world champs, and people want to come here and play well. We'll have to match that intensity and play better." The Brewers belted three homers Monday at Wrigley Field to pin a 6-3 loss on the Cubs, who did not lose back-to-back games in the month of April last year. Eric Thames hit his seventh homer of the season for Milwaukee; Chicago has nine home runs total this year, fewest in the National League. The Cubs are below .500 for the first time under manager Joe Maddon, if you don't count two Opening Day losses in 2015 and this year. "Obviously, when you're a competitor, you want to win," Kyle Schwarber said. "That's why we're out there, we want to win. Losing's not our strong suit. We want to go out there and put in team at-bats, team defense, and end up with a win at the end of the day. "It stinks [to lose], but we have to turn the page," Schwarber said. "It happened to us last year right before the All-Star break when we hit the skids. Hopefully, we're hitting it maybe early. It's super early in the season still, no panic." The Cubs lost nine of 11 games right before the break last year, but still had a 53-35 record and significant lead in the NL Central standings. "It's too early to panic about anything right now," Lackey said. "We have a lot of talent on this team. We'll get into it a little bit here. The last 10 years or so, I break the season up in quarters. Until you get to about 40, 50 games, we'll see where we're at then. Right now, it's pretty early." Jason Heyward doesn't use Lackey's timetable, but he also wasn't concerned. "I say it's one series at a time, one game at a time," Heyward said. "Up until the last series [against the Pirates], we won every series. It's just the beginning [of the season]." -- Cubs.com Hammel, Soler and Wood receive WS rings By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Jason Hammel, Jorge Soler and Travis Wood took a one-day break from the Royals to receive the World Series rings they won last year with the Cubs during a pregame ceremony Monday night at Wrigley Field. The trio, who wore Cubs jerseys with gold lettering, received the rings from president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, general manager Jed Hoyer and manager Joe Maddon. "Last year was one to remember, for sure," Wood said. "I don't think anybody will forget it. I sure won't. It was fun." Monday was an off-day for the Royals, and the two teams arranged for the three players to receive their rings at Wrigley rather than wait until next week when the Royals are in Chicago to play the White Sox. The Cubs are trying

to present as many rings as possible to the players in front of Cubs fans, so Dexter Fowler was expected to get his in June when the Cardinals come to town, and Aroldis Chapman and Adam Warren will receive their rings in early May when the Yankees play an Interleague series at Wrigley Field. Wood and Hammel left via free agency, while Soler was traded to the Royals for closer Wade Davis. Wood, 30, spent eight seasons with the Cubs, and was the longest tenured player on the World Series roster. He's seen a lot more down years. "It was a long journey," Wood said. "To see the payoff, to still be here and see the payoff was something I'll cherish." Maddon saw the lefty in the food room of the home clubhouse before batting practice. "Travis walked in, and it's like, 'OK, how do you feel for today?'" Maddon said. "It's just very, very normal. ... The weird thing about that is it's like he belongs here. It's not even weird -- there's nothing awkward about it. That's not normal. When a guy from another team walks in your locker room, even though he may have been with you in the past, it's still awkward." Wood was popular among his Cubs teammates, not just the relievers. "I think it's a combination of the closeness and just who he is," Maddon said. "His personality draws you in. He is a wonderful teammate, he is easy to be with. He's so supportive of everybody around him. He's got all the attributes you're looking for. I guess the time frame hasn't been that long that we haven't seen him here. It was very easy to say hello to him." Wood toured the new bullpens and said hello to as many people as he could. But the lefty wasn't available for the game. "We can't use him tonight," Maddon said, smiling. "Seeing the guys and all the 'Hi's' and 'miss you' was pretty special," Wood said. -- Cubs.com Edwards off bereavement list; La Stella on it By Carrie Muskat CHICAGO -- Reliever Carl Edwards Jr. returned from the bereavement list Monday, but the Cubs had to place infielder Tommy La Stella on that list following the death of his grandmother. The addition of Edwards gives the Cubs eight relievers, which may be a number they keep, manager Joe Maddon said. "We're considering it," Maddon said Monday. "Looking at what's been going on recently, it's something we pondered in Spring Training also. It's definitely being discussed." The Cubs' bullpen had a rough weekend, blowing saves in three straight games against the Pirates. Chicago's relievers rank ninth in the National League with a 4.19 ERA, and they are tied with the Marlins for the league lead in blown saves (four). "I'm honestly not concerned at all," Maddon said. "Part of it is getting them in comfortable roles and making sure we don't over use anybody. I think it's an industry-wide concern that you'll see fluctuation in bullpen pitchers. I like the way they look right now, we just have to get them out there at the right time." • The Cubs went 17-5 last April, and were 6-6 this month entering Monday's series opener against the Brewers. If it wasn't the beginning of the year, Maddon doesn't think many people would say anything.

"When you go 6-6 in the middle of the year, nobody notices," Maddon said. "It's a nice road trip a lot of times. A 10-day road trip, you go 5-5, that's a nice road trip. "I think you'll see more consistent hitting," he said. "I've said it takes about a month to figure out your bullpen. We're still in the process of getting everybody comfortable out there. When the hitting peaks a little more, and we establish getting the bullpen guys comfortable, then it will take off." --