Chicago Baseball – July-August 2018 Issue by Chicago Baseball

FRONT & CENTER

Albert Almora Jr. Paces Cubs Offense p.

Javy & Yuwinkle

JULY/AUGUST 2018

Cubby Awards

Midseason Report Card Vol. 23, No. 3

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INSIDE YOUR GUIDE TO CUBS BASEBALL

July/August 2018 • Vol. 23, No. 3

Matt Smerge Publisher & Editor Steven Cline Contributing Editor

Albert Almora Jr. #5, Center Field

Javier Baez #9, Second Base

Allen Yanong & Mark Sliwinski Staff Writers Marty Plesha Circulation Director Kris Bryant #17, Third Base

6 6. 8. 10. 12. 14. 16. 18. 20. 21.

Left Field Media

Out of Left Field/The Foul Pole Unorthodox Stance/Point-Counterpoint A Game of Two Halves Leave It to the Geezers 2018 Cubby Awards This Day in Cubs History Player Poster: Javier Báez Cubs 2018 Schedule Kids Clubhouse Fun Page by Jim Siergey

22. 24. 26. 28. 30. 32. 34. 36. 38.

Perillo Collision & Service Scorecard Back of the Baseball Card 2018 Predictions Chicago Cubs 40-Man Roster PREVIEW: Chicago Cubs PREVIEWS: St. Louis Cardinals & Arizona Diamondbacks PREVIEWS: San Diego Padres & Washington Nationals PREVIEW: Milwaukee Brewers Midseason Report Card 2018 Chicago Cubs Player Cards

B/T

Ht. & Wt.

Birthdate

B/T

Ht. & Wt.

Birthdate

B/T

Ht. & Wt.

Birthdate

R/R

6’2” & 190

4/16/94

R/R

6’0” & 190

12/1/92

R/R

6’5” & 215

1/4/92

2017 Regular Season Stats

Salary

2017 Regular Season Stats

.273, 23 HR, 75 RBI in 469 AB

$10,850,000

.295, 29 HR, 73 RBI in 549 AB

Salary

2017 Regular Season Stats

Salary

$584,500

.298, 8 HR, 46 RBI in 299 AB

$657,000

Laura Otto Art Director & Website Manager Cole Otto Social Media Manager Jay Roper Founder ••••••• www.ChicagoBaseballMag.com Email: win1908@aol.com Now in its 23rd year, Chicago Baseball is the #1 independent publication about the Chicago Cubs. It is available outside Wrigley Field prior to home games. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed, written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in Chicago Baseball are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Team logos used herein are the property of the individual teams and/or Major League Baseball and are used solely for identification and editorial purposes. © 2018 Left Field Media, LLC

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OUT OF LEFT FIELD

No Time Like the Present

By Matt Smerge

he year is 1962. NBC is airing “Rocky and Bullwinkle,” John F. Kennedy is in the White House and the Cubs’ College of Coaches experiment ends with chaos and abject failure (59-103 record). Flash-forward to 2018. The longtime “lovable losers” are one of baseball’s elite powerhouses and Bullwinkle is now in the White House. My, how times have changed. For all the angst over this year’s team (the rotation issues, the feast or famine offense), it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that we’re currently enjoying the golden era of Cubs baseball. It’s always tempting to take a ride in the Wayback Machine and revisit prior eras but that would only reveal the rose color of our glasses. Other than a few fleeting bright spots, much of Cubs’ annals between 1945 and 2015 is best left to the dustbins of history. Sure, a few Hall of Fame players came and went in between but there were more torturous seasons than not. Just six years ago the Cubs lost 101 games. In fact the North Siders lost 90 or more games 23 times between 1948 and 2013 (more than one in three years), posting winning records just 17 times between 1946 and 2014 (fewer than one in four years). So let’s not take this for granted. Sure, there are things to complain about. Yu Darvish is at the top of that list. After Kosuke Fukudome and Darvish, the Cubs should be banned from signing Japanese players altogether.

The Foul Pole

PAGE 6

And Tyler Chatwood. What is it with Theo and Jed acquiring pitchers who then suddenly lose complete command of the strike zone? See also Justin Wilson. And there are things to worry about. What’s with Kris Bryant’s power outage? Will the bullpen hold up over the second half after accounting for 41% of the workload prior to the break? Despite these issues the Cubs had the best record in the NL at the All-Star break. Darvish, Chatwood and Hendricks combined for ten first half wins, yet the Cubs were 17 games above .500. Bryant and Anthony Rizzo combined for just 22 home runs, yet the Cubs still led the league in runs scored. There’s been no better time to be a Cubs fan. We’ll always cherish our memories of Ernie Banks hitting his 500th homer or Ryne Sandberg clubbing two improbable longballs off Bruce Sutter, but these are truly the golden days. This is easily the deepest collection of position players the Cubs have ever assembled. Cub fans never had it so good. Like seeing Bryant effortlessly put up a .900 OPS. Or watching Javy Baez make the transition from raw talent to MVP candidate. While not perfect, the Cubs’ front office has never been more effectual. Epstein has kept his word. Making the postseason is becoming close to routine. Another World Series is coming. Maybe not this year, but it’s coming. Relax and enjoy every season. Nothing lasts forever. See Chicago Blackhawks.

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UNORTHODOX STANCE

Simply the Best?

By Steven Cline

s this the best team in the National League? That’s the question I keep asking myself as I watch the Cubs this season. Watch them fall behind game after game after game. Watch the offense fluctuate from feast to famine and back again game after game after game. Watch Tyler Chatwood miss the strike zone pitch after pitch after pitch. And yet, by some measures, the Cubs are the best. They are the highest-scoring team in the National League. They have the best batting average. They’ve allowed the fewest runs. Only four teams boast a positive run differential of triple digits. Three of them are the American League powerhouses in Houston, Boston and New York. The Cubs are the other. Maybe they are the best. Then again, how can they be the best team in the National League when they haven’t been the best team in their own division most of the year? They’ve stared up at Milwaukee in the Central standings for months. And yet, thanks to a July skid by the Brewers and a late West Coast surge, the Cubs found themselves with a 2.5 game cushion at the All-Star break, the largest of any National League division leader. So, let’s say history repeats itself, and the Cubs win the division for a third consecutive season. Jon Lester is your Game One playoff starter. Lester has been phenomenal so far, but he’s 34 and on pace to

throw more than 200 innings for the third time in the last four seasons. Losing a close game against, let’s say, Clayton Kershaw or Stephen Strasburg is a definite possibility. Who takes the mound in Game Two? Kyle Hendricks or Jose Quintana, who both allow close to four runs per nine innings? Will Yu Darvish even be available, and if he is, do you trust him? I don’t even want to think about Chatwood trying to locate his pitches in that pressure-cooker environment. And yet, the Cubs’ record at this year’s All-Star break was not significantly different than at the same time in 2016 when they were not only the best team in the National League but all of baseball. They’ve compiled that record without Darvish and Kris Bryant for long stretches – arguably their most talented pitcher and position player, respectively. Anthony Rizzo hasn’t hit yet. Under Joe Maddon the Cubs have traditionally been a second-half powerhouse. And we can count on Theo Epstein to fill a need or two at the trade deadline or beyond, can’t we? So maybe the Cubs are the best team in the National League. That was the expectation coming into this season, and nothing has happened so far to disqualify them. The next few months will provide a definitive answer to that nagging question. Now the real fun – or frustration – begins.

POINT - COUNTERPOINT

Should the Cubs Bag the In-Game Military Salute?

Yes.

By Allen Yanong

Let me start by saying that one of the great sacrifices an American can make is deciding to serve in this country’s military to protect our rights and freedoms. These courageous men and women should be honored, they should be thanked and they should be heard. My problem with the current practice of honoring these heroes during the game is that it has become perfunctory. Basically, there’s a brief introduction, a quick applause and then it’s back to stuffing your face with peanuts and Cracker Jacks. These veterans have become a marketing tool, sometimes by private businesses and other times by the government. More troubling are reports that the U.S. Department of Defense is using taxpayer money to pay pro sports teams to hold these in-game salutes. Shouldn’t teams want to honor these soldiers without any incentive? And private companies are now paying sports franchises millions of dollars to sponsor these military appreciation stunts, including Boeing giving the Cubs $3 million. In lieu of these in-game salutes, maybe teams should set up programs where fans can personally meet these heroes so they can learn more about their experiences and struggles. A question and answer session before or during games would be more productive than the hollow gestures that now saturate every major sporting event. So c’mon Mr. Ricketts, spend some of that Boeing money on setting up programs that actually help out our veterans … the Hotel Zachary looks swanky enough. PAGE 8

No.

By Mark Sliwinski

Bagging the military salute seems downright unpatriotic. On the surface the salute is nothing more than an introduction of those honored, followed by a nice round of applause. However, for those individuals honored, it is a highlight they’ll remember and cherish for the rest of their lives. Sacrificing a few moments of our time seems like a drop in the bucket compared to the sacrifice these individuals have made to serve our country. Military personnel deserve it. What they deserve even more are additional resources once they have returned from service. Too many veterans struggle to transition back to civilian life. According to a Department of Veteran Affairs study, an astonishing 22 veterans commit suicide every day. I live near a Department of Veterans Affairs office and always see veterans on the surrounding streets. Many are panhandling, homeless and/ or down-and-out drunk. Instead of the military helping veterans, they are using their time, money and resources towards gaining new recruits and continuing this vicious cycle. Maybe if recruitment numbers fall, the military will need to address how to better prepare veterans for life after they serve. In the meantime, thanking those veterans who chose to serve our country with some in-game appreciation while the pitcher warms up is the very least we can do. These veterans have been underappreciated long enough. CHICAGO BASEBALL

FEATURE STORY

A Game of Two Halves

By Matt Smerge

alf empty or half full? That’s the age-old question for Cubs’ fans. Indeed our worldview can be greatly influenced by the Cubs’ successes and failures over the years. During at least the second half of the 108-year championship drought, it was hard for many Cubs’ fans to view the cup as half full. If they did, it’s probably because they had only spilled some lukewarm Old Style. 2016 changed all that. Optimism now reigns supreme in Cubs Nation. Or does it? Old habits die hard just like Cub fans. 2018 has been a huge test of the old half empty vs. half full proverbial phrase. And it figures to continue through the second half and into the postseason should the Cubs get there. Here are some examples to consider.

The Standings The Cubs find themselves in another tight race with the Milwaukee Brewers. Last season the North Siders made up a 5.5 game deficit at the break to finish a full six games ahead of Milwaukee at season’s end. A three-game sweep in San Diego coupled with a Brewers’ six-game losing streak to end the first-half allowed the Cubs to surge 2.5 games ahead of Milwaukee at the All-Star break. Half Full – Following some first half hiccups the Cubs are now well on their way with no looking back. They have more depth and experience and simply own the NL Central in this era. Half Empty – This isn’t 2017. The Brewers are still stinging from last September and

Anthony Rizzo, #44

very eager to topple the Cubs. They’re also a better team than they were a year ago. Offseason additions of Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich along with the emergence of Jesus Aguilar and Josh Hader have made a huge impact. The Brewers may have been playing over their heads last year but not now. They owned the best record in the National League for much of the first half and will provide a very tough test for the Cubs down the stretch. The Pitching The Cubs looked to have one of the most formidable starting staffs in baseball entering 2018. Things haven’t exactly turned out as planned. Jon Lester has returned to 2016 form, winning ten of his first 12 starts while posting a 2.58 ERA. But that’s where the happy story ends. Kyle Hendricks has struggled with consistency. The Cubs are hoping he may have turned the corner with a brilliant start in San Francisco before the All-Star break. Yu Darvish has been a complete bust while battling nagging injuries and wavering selfconfidence. Tyler Chatwood has dealt with epic control issues and Jose Quintana has been mostly meh. Swingman Mike Montgomery was a bright spot for a while. The bullpen has been a huge bright spot, ranking first in the NL in wins and opponents’ batting average and second in ERA. But the lack of quality starts has overtaxed the relievers, which could mean trouble in the season’s waning weeks. Half Full – Darvish will return with a vengeance and a trade deadline acquisition will take Chatwood’s spot in the rotation. Quintana will make Cubs’ fans stop regretting the trade of Eloy Jimenez to the White Sox. Hendricks will pitch like he did in the second half of 2017 when he posted a 2.19 ERA. And Lester will continue to dominate. A rejuvenated rotation will reduce the stress on the bullpen. Half Empty – Lester will regress in the second half. Darvish won’t return from the DL. Chatwood won’t be placed on

PAGE 10

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the DL. Hendricks and Quintana will continue to struggle with consistency. Mike Montgomery’s arm will fall off. The ‘pen will implode from overuse. The Offense The Cubs have brought feast or famine to a new level in 2018. They were held to two or fewer runs in 30 of their first 90 games, getting shut out seven times. Meanwhile, they scored seven or more runs in 27 games and ten or more in 14 of those contests. The Cubs were 19-8 in blowout games (5+ runs) but just 10-16 in one-run games. New hitting coach Chili Davis has been preaching extended at bats and going the opposite way. It started to pay dividends before the break.

Adam Conley could be a very useful piece for the home stretch. Drew Smyly, rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, could also be a factor out of the bullpen in August and September. Half Empty – Team Theo adds another flop like Justin Wilson last year. The Brewers, who are much better poised to make a big splash at the deadline, go all in and acquire Machado or a group of players to help them get over the top and outlast the Cubs in the Central. Bottom Line With the dearth of elite teams in the NL, it’s hard to imagine the Cubs not making the playoffs this season. But beyond that, it’s hard to predict.

Half Full – The hot weather will again bring out the best in the Cubs’ bats and they’ll experience more feast than famine over the next two and a half months. Kris Bryant is now healthy and will rediscover his power stroke. Anthony Rizzo will regain his MVP form. Javier Baez and Albert Almora Jr. will continue their breakout seasons. The Jason Heyward surprise party doesn’t end prematurely. And Willson Contreras goes on a tear like he did last July and August.

Half Full – Cubs win the Central again and advance through the wide-open National League playoffs to win their second pennant in three years. Half Empty – A Wild Card berth could mean an early exit. Even if they advance to the World Series, they’ll be overmatched by a far superior American League opponent. The Cubs simply can’t compete with the Red Sox, Yankees, Astros or Indians this year. With so many questions concerning the rotation, enthusiasm for another World Series title this year would appear merely lukewarm just like that $10.50 Goose Island you’re drinking. Or is it slightly chilled? Kris Bryant, #17

Half Empty – Injuries creep up and the inconsistency continues to be a problem. Worse yet, the Cubs’ bats are simply unable to overcome the rotation deficiencies. Trade Deadline The Cubs front office has been very active at the trade deadline the last couple seasons. In 2016 Team Theo (Epstein and Hoyer, et al) acquired Aroldis Chapman who helped the Cubs end their excruciating drought. Last season they obtained Quintana who helped them nail down a second consecutive NL Central title. Who will it be this year? The Manny Machado rumors have finally been put to rest and they would appear to lack the top prospects necessary to even sniff at an elite starter like Jacob DeGrom. Half Full – For the Cubs’ rotation the answers will apparently need to come from within. But a fringe starter/bullpen guy like the Blue Jays’ J.A, Happ, the Rangers’ Matt Moore or the Marlins’ JULY/AUGUST ‘18

PAGE 11

FEATURE STORY

Leave It to the Geezers

By Steven Cline

hen the Cubs won the 2016 World Series they became one of the youngest champions in baseball’s long history. Only the 1969 Mets had a younger average age among position players. While this youthful, uber-talented core gets most of the attention, and deservedly so, the Cubs have always complemented the youngsters with a mix of older players. In the 2016 season, veterans like “Grandpa” David Ross and Miguel Montero were key contributors. In 2017, Jon Jay led the team with a .296 batting average, and Jon Lackey won a dozen games. So far in 2018, one could argue that it has been the geezers and not the youngsters who have outperformed expectations in the first half. A geezer is defined here as anyone born in the 1980s—age being relative in professional sports where 30 is considered old. Let’s take a look at those, ahem, “seasoned” players who have been so good over the first three months of 2018. JON LESTER, AGE 34 Quick, who led the Cubs in WAR in the first half? You might think Javy Baez in a lock, but it was actually the old man on the mound. Lester was a 19-game winner in 2016 and one of the leaders of that championship squad. But the first half of 2018 may have been his finest stretch in a Cubs uniform. Consider that he won seven consecutive starts for the first time in his illustrious career and was on pace for his first 20-win season. His ERA ranked in the top five in the National League, and he was named an All-Star for the fifth time overall and second time as a Cub. Not a bad first half. Lester is halfway through a six-year, $155 million contract, the richest ever for a Cubs pitcher. So far, he has earned every penny. By simply signing with the Cubs he showed his faith in the organization and put it on the map for free agents to follow. Since he’s put on a Cubs uniform he’s been nothing but a winner in attitude and effort, if not always in performance. And his first half begs the question: Is Lester one of those rare pitchers who improves with age?

and Tony Robbins caliber motivational speaking. Add a productive, professional hitter to that skill set and the contract isn’t looking like such an albatross. TOMMY LA STELLA, AGE 29 Nicknamed “3 a.m.” for his ability to hit any where at any time, La Stella has lived up to the Joe Maddon bestowed monicker. His .277 batting average doesn’t look overly impressive, but he’s shined as a pinch hitter. La Stella’s 15 pinch hits is tops in the game, and he is batting well over .300 in those situations. That has helped the Cubs pile up the most pinch hits in baseball. La Stella has also played both third and second base, providing Maddon with even more versatility as he finds playing time for everyone on the roster. MIKE MONTGOMERY, AGE 29 While he struggled in July, Montgomery put together a stretch of five consecutive starts allowing one or fewer earned runs beginning in late May, winning four of them. That helped stabilize a starting rotation that lost Yu Darvish. Montgomery may lose his spot in the rotation when Darvish returns or a fifth starter is acquired, but he remains a valuable left-handed arm that can fill a number of roles.

Jason Heyward, #22

BEN ZOBRIST, AGE 37 The 2016 World Series MVP is quietly putting together his best season in Chicago. A career .264 hitter, he’s batting nearly .300 and his on base percentage is 30 points higher than his career .356 mark. Zobrist’s .320 batting average on the road leads the team. And he’s continued to provide versatility, playing second base, first base and both corner outfield positions this year. As his career winds down, the numbers might not always be there, but his jack-of-alltrades abilities, professionalism and winning approach will remain hallmarks. JASON HEYWARD, AGE 29 (as of Aug. 9) Heyward’s eight-year, $184 million contract is often cited as a rare Theo Epstein blunder. If Heyward continues hitting the way he has in the first half, though, the criticism will be at least somewhat muted. His slash line of .284/.346/.432 compares favorably to 2015, his best season as a pro. The Cubs signed him from St. Louis that offseason and in return have received Gold Glove caliber defense PAGE 12

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FEATURE STORY

2018 Cubby Awards

t’s awards season yet again. Time for our semi-regular presentation of the Cubby Awards. Remember, there are only winners except for the winners who are really losers. Most Funnest Cub – Javy Baez Baez is enjoying a breakout season, emerging as a bonafide MVP candidate in the National League. His amazing skills and sky high baseball IQ make him a thrill to watch whether he’s swiping a tag or eluding one, stealing home or hitting a ball 450 feet from home plate. And the best may be yet to come for the first time All-Star. Most Underrated Cub – Albert Almora Jr. The Cubs finally found their leadoff batter in Almora who ranks in the top five in hitting in the National League while playing a Gold Glove caliber defense. Yet Ben Zobrist, #18

By Matt Smerge manager Joe Maddon still opts to keep him out of the starting lineup a couple times per week, revealing his insistency to outsmart himself. Best Hair and Makeup – Joe Maddon Other than that last thing, we still like Maddon’s makeup for the most part although his act does tend to wear a bit thin at times over a long season. But his ever-evolving hair coloring will never grow old, so to speak. Moldy Raspberry Award – Yu Darvish and Tyler Chatwood (tie) This category was too close to call unlike the vast majority of pitches thrown by Chatwood. Darvish possesses both a fragile arm and fragile ego, hesitant to pitch at Wrigley Field where he might hear boo birds. Good thing he has another five and a half years to get over that. Chatwood needs a GPS to locate home plate. Comeback Player – Jason Heyward It’s been great watching Heyward contribute offensively on a regular basis with an OPS approaching .800 for the first time since he put on a Cubs’ uniform. His hard work has paid off, as has the influence of new hitting instructor, Chili Davis. Actor in a Supporting Role – Ben Zobrist Following a subpar 2017, Zobrist is back to being the versatile and steady Swiss Army Knife on the Cubs roster. Most Durable Arm – Steve Cishek The c ra f t y sidea r m rel iever appeared in 43 of the first 90 games, notching a sub-2.00 ERA. If he manages to hold up in the second half, Cishek could be a valuable bullpen piece this October. Best Set Design – Gallagher Way Despite the unfortunate name (a

PAGE 14

curious tribute to the watermelon smashing prop comic), the Cubs’ outdoor plaza adjacent to the ballpark is an enjoyable venue to hang out before and after games or take in a lame old movie or mediocre cover band. Props to the Cubs and the much-maligned comedian for making it all happen. Best Matinee Show – July 4th Homestand In a scheduling oddity, the Cubs hosted eight consecutive day games between June 29 and July 8. It felt like old times and yielded a 7-1 record, all thrilling come from behind wins. The Cubs should be scheduling more day games, not fewer, especially during the summer months. Leave the night games for when the kids are back in school. Worst Sound Mixing – Wrigley Field The Cubs still can’t get it right at the ballpark. The odd mix of organ music and lame walk-up tunes needs to be fixed. We vote for more organ and less “Benny and the Jets.” Best Costume Design – Road Gray Jerseys Good to see the Cubs opting for the traditional road grays much more often this season. They wore them in 27 of their first 46 road games (59%), donning the boring blue alternate jerseys in the other 19. That’s a welcome reversal from previous seasons. They wore the blue jerseys in a whopping 69% of road games in 2017 but who’s keeping track? Honorable mention to Zobrist who fought MLB and won the right to continue rocking his black P.F. Flyers with the righteous old school stirrups. Best Adapted Screenplay – 2018 Cubs? The Cubs hope to follow the script of the last three seasons when they went a combined 149-73 in the second half (.671 winning percentage). That would certainly yield them another division title and plenty of positive momentum for the postseason. It might even produce a sequel to the 2016 World Series. Unlike “Deuce Bigalow, European Gigolo,” that would be a sequel well worth seeing. CHICAGO BASEBALL

FIELDSAUTO.COM

FEATURE STORY

This Day in Cubs History By Matt Smerge July 19, 1982 – Jay Johnstone ties it with a hit in the 10th followed by a Jerry Morales pinch-hit, walk-off single as the Cubs edge the Astros 6-5 before 13,538 fans at Wrigley Field. July 20, 2016 – Anthony Rizzo goes deep twice is a 6-2 win over the Mets at the Friendly Confines. July 21, 1965 – Trailing 7-5 in the 8th, Billy Williams’ RBI double trims the deficit to one before Jimmy Stewart’s RBI triple ties it in the 9th. Then Ernie Banks walks-off the Phillies with a single in the 8-7 win at Wrigley. July 21, 2015 – Kyle Schwarber does a Ryne Sandberg when he ties the game with a homer in the 9th before winning it with a long ball in the 13th as the Cubs top the Reds 5-4 in Cincinnati. July 22, 1992 – Greg Maddux tosses a six-hit complete game shutout in a 3-0 victory at Riverfront Stadium. July 23, 1944 – After Bill “Swish” Nicholson hits four home runs in four consecutive at-bats during a doubleheader at the Polo Grounds, Giants’ manager Mel Ott orders Nicholson to be intentionally walked with the bases loaded in the 8th inning of the second game. It works as the Cubs lose the nightcap 12-10 after taking the opener 7-4. July 24, 1938 – Stan Hack goes 5-for-8, including the gamewinning double in the 15th, as the Cubs shrink the Giants 5-4 at Wrigley Field.

August 5, 1977 – Dave Kingman powers the Padres to an 11-8 win over the Cubs with two homers and seven RBIs before 17,985 at Wrigley, dropping Chicago out of first place for the first time since May 28. August 10, 2002 – Sammy Sosa slams three consecutive three-run dingers in three successive innings as the Cubs rout the Rockies 15-1 at Coors Field. Moises Alou chips in with two homers. August 11, 1941 – The Cubs hit back to back to back homers for the first time in franchise history during a 7-5 loss to the Cardinals at Sportsman’s Park. Phil Cavaretta, Hack and Nicholson pull off the hat trick. August 12, 1989 – Shawon Dunston collects three hits and six RBIs in a 9-7 win over the Phillies on the North Side. August 14, 1976 – George Mitterwald drives in both runs and Ray Burris shuts out the Dodgers 2-0 in a one hour and 49 minute game at Wrigley Field. August 15, 1915 – Umpire Mal Eason and a police officer prevent Cubs’ manager Roger Bresnahan from climbing into the stands to attack a heckling Cardinals’ fan during the Cubs 3-1 win in the first game of a doubleheader in St. Louis. Upset with umpire calls, fans litter the field with pop bottles and vegetables, halting play for several minutes.

July 25, 1956 – Roberto Clemente hits a walk-off, inside-thepark grand slam on the only pitch thrown by reliever Jim Brosnan as the Pirates stun the Cubs 9-8 at Forbes Field. July 26, 1904 – Frank Chance is ejected after shoving umpire Gus Moran during a 3-1 Cubs win over the Reds at West Side Grounds. Fans angry with Moran’s calls that day shower the field with bottles, covering the base lines with broken glass. Several hundred fans are waiting after the game for Moran who is smuggled out of the ballpark by police into a waiting cab. August 2, 1955 – Ernie Banks clubs his fourth grand slam of the season, tying a major league record, in a 12-4 drubbing of the Pirates at Wrigley Field. August 3, 1923 – The Cubs game versus the Brooklyn Dodgers in Chicago is postponed to observe a national day of mourning following the death of President Warren Harding the day before. August 4, 1986 – In a 4-2 win over the Mets at Wrigley, Cubs’ manager Gene Michael turns around the cap of umpire Dave Pallone during a heated argument and is suspended for three games. PAGE 16

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2018 CUBS 40-MAN ROSTER

No. Pitchers

Player

B/T

Ht.

Wt.

Birthdate

Adbert Alzolay

R/R

6’0”

179

3/1/95

Anthony Bass

R/R

6’2”

200

11/1/87

Tyler Chatwood

R/R

6’0”

185

12/16/89

Steve Cishek

R/R

6’6”

215

6/18/86

Yu Darvish

R/R

6’5”

220

8/16/86

Oscar De La Cruz

R/R

6’4”

200

3/4/95

Brian Duensing

L/L

6’0”

200

2/22/83

Carl Edwards Jr.

R/R

6’3”

170

9/3/91

Luke Farrell

L/R

6’6”

210

6/7/91

Justin Hancock

R/R

6’4”

185

10/28/90

Kyle Hendricks

R/R

6’3”

190

12/7/89

Jon Lester

L/L

6’4”

240

1/7/84

Dillon Maples

R/R

6’2”

225

5/9/92

Cory Mazzoni

R/R

6’1”

210

10/19/89

Alec Mills

R/R

6’4”

190

11/30/91

Mike Montgomery

L/L

6’5”

215

7/1/89

Brandon Morrow

R/R

6’3”

205

7/26/84

James Norwood

R/R

6’2”

215

12/24/93

Jose Quintana

R/L

6’1”

220

1/24/89

Randy Rosario

L/L

6’1”

200

5/18/94

Drew Smyly

L/L

6’3”

190

6/13/89

Pedro Strop

R/R

6’1”

220

6/13/85

Jen-Ho Tseng

L/R

6’1”

195

10/3/94

Duane Underwood Jr.

R/R

6’2”

210

7/20/94

Justin Wilson

L/L

6’2”

205

8/18/87

Rob Zastryzny

R/L

6’3”

205

3/26/92

Victor Caratini

S/R

6’1”

215

8/17/93

Willson Contreras

R/R

6’1”

210

5/13/92

Javier Baez

R/R

6’0”

190

12/1/92

David Bote

R/R

6’1”

210

4/7/93

Kris Bryant

R/R

6’5”

230

1/4/92

Catchers Infielders

Tommy La Stella

L/R

5’11”

180

1/31/89

Anthony Rizzo

L/L

6’3”

240

8/8/89

Addison Russell

R/R

6’0”

200

1/23/94

Ben Zobrist

S/R

6’3”

210

5/26/81

Albert Almora Jr.

R/R

6’2”

190

4/16/94

Ian Happ

S/R

6’0”

205

8/12/94

Jason Heyward

L/L

6’5”

240

8/9/89

Kyle Schwarber

L/R

6’0”

235

3/5/93

Mark Zagunis

R/R

6’0”

205

2/5/93

Outfielders

PAGE 26

CHICAGO BASEBALL

2018 CHICAGO CUBS

Chicago Cubs Do It Again

This is when Joe Maddon earns his lofty paycheck. The Cubs’ skipper has gotten WRIGLEY FIELD astonishing results in the second half since arriving in Chicago. The North Siders have 1060 W. Addison St. played at a .671 clip following the All-Star Chicago, IL 60613 break over the past three seasons. Capacity: 41,649 Maddon likes to rest his players and get the full roster involved on a regular basis. CUBS STAFF This has helped get the club over the hump Theo Epstein, President Jed Hoyer, Exec. VP/GM during the dog days of the pennant race. In 2017 the Cubs moved up 11.5 games #70 – Joe Maddon, Mgr. in the standings to finish six games better #58 – Mike Borzello than the Brewers. Milwaukee remains the #55 – Brian Butterfield Cubs’ nemesis in 2018. #63 – Juan Cabreja While the North Siders seek a repeat #30 – Chili Davis performance, questions concerning the #65 – Franklin Font starting pitching could decide how close #19 – Andy Haines the race is come September. Yu Darvish’s #48 – Jim Hickey tender arm could keep him sidelined into #16 – Brandon Hyde August or later. Tyler Chatwood’s wild arm #95 – Chad Noble could get him designated for assignment #35 – Lester Strode in August or sooner. Kyle Hendricks and #25 – Will Venable Joe Quintana also look to rebound in the MINOR LEAGUE second half. Offensively, Anthony Rizzo should AFFILIATES raise his uncharacteristic .740 OPS and Iowa Cubs (AAA) Willson Contreras will try to replicate last Tennessee Smokies (AA) Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A) season’s second half surge when he drove in 29 runs over his first 23 games following the South Bend Cubs (A) break. Addison Russell and Jason Heyward Eugene Emeralds (A) hope to carry their recent hot steaks into late July and August. And Javy Baez aims to become the first Cubs’ 30-30 man since Sammy Sosa in 1995. Baez was the only

Pos. CF 2B 3B 1B C LF RF SS

THE STARTING LINEUP No. #5 #9 #17 #44 #40 #12 #22 #27

Player Albert Almora Jr. Javier Baez Kris Bryant Anthony Rizzo Willson Contreras Kyle Schwarber Jason Heyward Addison Russell

THE ROTATION

Pos.

Manager Joe Maddon

2018 FIRST HALF RECORD: 55-38 At Home: 28-15 Runs Scored: 476 On Road: 27-23 Runs Against: 362 In X-tra: 6-6 Differential: +114 In One-Run: 11-16

PAGE 28

LHP RHP LHP RHP LHP

No.

#34 #28 #62 #21 #38

Pitcher

Jon Lester Kyle Hendricks Jose Quintana Tyler Chatwood Mike Montgomery

Salary $584,500 $657,000 $10,850,000 $7,285,714 $604,500 $604,500 $28,166,667 $3,200,000 Salary

$27,500,000 $4,175,000 $8,850,000 $12,500,000 $570,500

2018 CUBS FIRST HALF BATTING LEADERS Batting Average

Albert Almora Jr. (.319)

HR RBIs

player in the NL to lead his club in both home runs (19) and steals (18) at the break. The never say die Cubs have found all sorts of ways to win despite their often suspect starting pitching. They led the majors with 29 come from behind wins before the break, accounting for more than half their total victories. They notched comeback wins on walk-off grand slams, walk-off walks, Baez going first to home on a stolen base attempt and a nine-run rally produced by unplayable cold weather conditions. This should serve them well during the stretch run. The second half schedule will present its share of challenges and respites. The Cubs play 12 games in 11 days following an abridged All-Star break. That will really put their rotation to the test. From there things will ease in August when they’ll face teams including the Padres, Royals, Pirates, Tigers and Mets. They’ll also get a break at season’s end when they’ll be in Chicago two and a half of the final three weeks, including a weekend series on the South Side. The Cubs have eight games remaining with the Brewers, including a home-andhome series during the first two weeks of September. Chicago took eight of the first eleven contests from its rivals to the north. - by Matt Smerge

Key Stat Batting .333 with runners in scoring position in 2018 First Cub to steal home 2x in a season since Ted Savage in 1967 Has a .922 OPS at home, .821 on the road this season .740 OPS is lowest since 2013 Hitting .323 at home, .236 on the road this year Batting .213 with runners in scoring position in 2018 .778 OPS is best mark since 2015 .275 batting average in 2018 represents a career high Key Stat

Is 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA in day games, 5-2, 2.90 at night this season Has a 3.18 ERA at home, 4.81 on the road in 2018 Has a 5.36 ERA in day games, 2.57 at night this year 7.8 BB/9 IP is the worst among MLB starters 28 of his first 88 Cubs appearances were starts

2018 CUBS FIRST HALF PITCHING LEADERS ERA

Jon Lester (2.58)

Javier Baez (19)

Wins

Jon Lester (12) Jon Lester (88)

Javier Baez (72)

Strikeouts

OBP

Kris Bryant (.384)

Saves

Brandon Morrow (22)

Runs

Javier Baez (61)

Holds

Steve Cishek (11) CHICAGO BASEBALL

CUBS vs. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS...July 19-22

Cardinals in a Fiery Mood

BUSCH STADIUM

700 Clark Ave. St. Louis, MO 63102 Capacity: 43,975

CARDINALS STAFF

John Mozeliak, SVP & GM #83-Mike Shildt, Manager

CARDINALS BENCH

#25-Dexter Fowler, OF #35-Greg Garcia, INF #3-Jedd Gyorko, INF #62-Yairo Munoz, INF #46-Francisco Pena, C

CARDINALS BULLPEN

#60-John Brebbia, RHP #21-Brett Cecil, LHP #44-Luke Gregerson, RHP #49-Jordan Hicks, RHP #56-Greg Holland, RHP #55-Dominic Leone, RHP #70-Tyler Lyons, LHP #59-Mike Mayers, RHP #26-Bud Norris, RHP #64-Sam Tuivailala, RHP

St. Louis is baseball’s model franchise in terms of stability. Heading for a third straight season without a playoff spot, though, amounts to a crisis for a city that loves to remind everyone of its 11 World Series titles. That untenable situation prompted the Cardinals to fire manager Mike Matheny just prior to the All Star break along with hitting coach John Mabry and assistant hitting coach Bill Mueller. Matheny getting fired is not all that surprising. St. Louis has a history of playing fundamentally-sound, smart, crisp baseball. Opponents may beat the Cardinals, but they rarely beat themselves. That has been woefully lacking under Matheny of late. The Cardinals have the most errors in baseball by a wide margin with 72 in their first 88 games. That is almost unthinkable

Pos. 3B CF 1B LF C SS RF 2B Pos. RHP RHP RHP RHP RHP

THE STARTING LINEUP No. #13 #28 #38 #23 #4 #11 #48 #40

Player Matt Carpenter Tommy Pham Jose Martinez Marcell Ozuna Yadier Molina Paul DeJong Harrison Bader Kolton Wong

THE ROTATION No. #18 #32 #52 #39 #7

Pitcher Carlos Martinez Jack Flaherty Michael Wacha Miles Mikolas Luke Weaver

for a team with the Gashouse Gang, Ozzie Smith and Yadier Molina among its pantheon of stars. The timing of the move was the shocking part. St. Louis hadn’t fired a manager during the season since 1995. Interim manager Mike Shildt will be charged with injecting some life into a moribund team and getting them back in the division race. The Cardinals trailed the Cubs by 7.5 games and were one game above .500 (47-46) when he took over. Whether Shildt can get more out of Dexter Fowler (.174 BA), Tommy Pham (.238 BA) and a leaky bullpen remains to be seen. But the Cardinals front office could no longer stomach watching another season go to waste. - by Steven Cline

Salary $14,083,333 $570,100 $535,000 $9,000,000 $22,000,000 $1,500,000 $545,000 $4,200,000

Key Stat Drew a career-best 109 BB in 2017 .306/.411/.520 slash line in 2017; .240/.325/.396 in first half On pace to drive in 100 runs for first time in career 124 RBI in 2017; on pace for 88 RBI in 2018 4th all-time in games in Cardinals’ uniform Has one more 2B (34) than HR (33) in career Hit first MLB 3B on 5/13/18 @SD .788 OPS in 2017 a career high; .669 in first half

Salary $11,800,000 $545,000 $5,300,000 $7,500,000 $550,800

Key Stat Allowed just 3 HR in first 85 IP this year Allowed 2 hits in 7.2 IP for 1st MLB win 5/20/18 vs. PHI 3.20 ERA would be lowest since 2014 Won 3 games total from 2012-14; 10 wins in first half of 2018 More IP by All-Star break than previous two years combined

CUBS vs. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS...July 23-26

Diamondbacks Still Shining

CHASE FIELD

401 E. Jefferson Street Phoenix, AZ 85004 Capacity: 49,033 D-BACKS STAFF

Mike Hazen, General Manager #17-Torey Lovullo, Manager D-BACKS BENCH

#5-Alex Avila, C #3-Daniel Descalso, OF #9-Jon Jay, OF #2-Jeff Mathis, C #16-Chris Owings, INF

D-BACKS BULLPEN

#31-Brad Boxberger, RHP #61-Silvino Bracho, RHP #25-Archie Bradley, RHP #40-Andrew Chafin, LHP #29-Jorge De La Rosa, LHP #48-Randall Delgado, RHP #66-Yoshihisa Hirano, RHP #55-Matt Koch, RHP

Arizona was a surprise success last year, winning 93 games and earning a wild card spot. But when the Diamondbacks decided to let J.D. Martinez leave in the name of fiscal responsibility during the offseason, many thought that their playoff aspirations went with him. After all, Martinez powered Arizona’s second half surge from the middle of the lineup, hitting 29 home runs and driving in 65 runs in just 62 games. Martinez is doing the same kinds of things in Boston this season, but Arizona has hardly missed a beat. Through mid-July, the Diamondbacks were winning at a .550 clip, just below the .572 mark they posted last year. And because the Dodgers have come down to earth from their historic 2017

THE STARTING LINEUP

THE ROTATION

Pos. LF 1B 3B CF 2B SS RF C Pos. RHP RHP LHP LHP RHP

No. #6 #44 #22 #11 #4 #13 #28 #36 No. #21 #26 #46 #38 #52

Player David Peralta Paul Goldschmidt Jake Lamb A.J. Pollock Ketel Marte Nick Ahmed Steven Souza, Jr. John Ryan Murphy Pitcher Zack Greinke Shelby Miller Patrick Corbin Robbie Ray Zack Godley

PAGE 30

season, Arizona is actually in a better spot in terms of the division title this year. Without Martinez, the offense has dropped to the middle of the pack in runs, but pitching carried Arizona in the first half. The Diamondbacks were fourth in the National League in team ERA, trailing only the Dodgers, Brewers and Cubs. Zack Greinke (10-5, 3.18 ERA) pitched like a true No. 1 starter and was named an All-Star for the fifth time. Zack Godley had more wins, Patrick Corbin led the team in both ERA and strikeouts, and Robbie Ray is a former All-Star. That’s a rotation that should keep Arizona in the race all season long and could do some damage in the playoffs. - by Steven Cline

Salary $3,300,000 $11,083,333 $4,275,000 $7,750,000 $1,600,000 $1,275,000 $3,550,000 $558,000

Key Stat Slugged .500 in first half; career high is .522 in 2015 .144 BA in May; rebounded to hit .364 in June Career .451 SLG; .362 in first 190 AB this season 39 SBs in 2015; 33 total SBs since 8 HR total from 2015-17; 9 HR in first 321 ABs this season 10 HR in 451 ABs (2016-17); 12 HR first 309 ABs this year .420 OBP over his five-year career (WAS, TB, AZ) 1 career 3B in 509 AB (2015 with NYY)

Salary $31,954,483 $4,900,000 $7,500,000 $3,950,000 $579,200

Key Stat 40-19 with sub 4 ERA since signing with AZ 5-18 with ERA above 6 since signing with AZ 146 SO to 34 BB through first 19 starts this year 15-5 with 2.89 ERA in 2017 11 wins in first half represent a new single-season high CHICAGO BASEBALL

CUBS vs. SAN DIEGO PADRES...August 2-5

Irrelevant by the Bay

PETCO PARK

100 Park Blvd. San Diego, CA 92101 Capacity: 42,445 PADRES STAFF

A.J. Preller, GM #14-Andy Green, Manager PADRES BENCH

#17-A.J. Ellis, C #2-Jose Pirela, Util. #10-Hunter Renfroe, OF #32-Franmil Reyes, OF #23-Matt Szczur, OF PADRES BULLPEN

#90-Adam Cimber, RHP #41-Robbie Erlin, LHP #52-Brad Hand, LHP #59-Phil Hugher, RHP #88-Phil Maton, RHP #34-Craig Stammen, RHP #55-Matt Strahm, LHP #39-Kirby Yates, RHP

Quick, name a Padre. That’s easy, right? Tony Gwynn. Or, if you are a Cubs fan of a certain age, Steve Garvey might come to mind, visions of his freakishly thick, hirsute forearms, his perfect teeth and tan and swing that produced a soul-crushing home run off Lee Smith. Now, name a current Padre. Matt Kemp? No, he’s back with the Dodgers and looking reborn. Chase Headley? Nope. He was released in May after hitting .115 in his second stint with the club. Wil Myers? Bingo! The former American League Rookie of the Year is still the face of a San Diego rebuilding project that is little more than a hole in the ground several years in. Myers is as close as the team comes to a face of the franchise,

Pos. RF 2B LF 1B 3B SS CF C

Pos. RHP RHP LHP LHP RHP

THE STARTING LINEUP No. #7 #20 #4 #30 #22 #13 #7 #18

Player

Travis Jankowski Carlos Asuaje Wil Myers Eric Hosmer Christian Villanueva Freddy Galvis Manuel Margot Austin Hedges

THE ROTATION No.

#50 #38 #3 #46 #61

Pitcher

Salary

$555,000 $550,100 $4,666,666 $21,625,000 $548,500 $6,825,000 $556,900 $553,100

Salary

Bryan Mitchell Tyson Ross Clayton Richard Eric Lauer Luis Perdomo

$552,800 $1,750,000 $3,000,000 $545,000 $566,800

but his biggest accomplishment in San Diego is a 2016 All-Star Game appearance when the city hosted the game. That might have been the last feel-good story at Petco Park. This year, not a single Padre appeared in the All-Star Game voting updates released on social media by Major League Baseball. Of course, they only showed the top five at each position. It’s not just that San Diego is bad. That’s unquestionably true. The Padres score the fewest runs in the National League, will post their eighth straight losing season and likely finish last in the West. The Padres are worse than bad, though. They are irrelevant. Even their glorious brown and gold alternate uniforms can’t change that. - by Steven Cline

Key Stat

Homered vs. CHC 7/13/18; 6th HR in 706 career AB 6 HRs and 39 RBI in 472 career AB Hit 3 HR 7/7/18 @ARZ in 20-5 loss; 1st 3 HR game for loser .247 BA and .317 OBP worst since 2012 with KC Hit 3 of his team-high 18 HR 4/3/18 vs. COL .229 BA and .323 SLG worst since 2014 with PHI Was not caught stealing in in first half (7-for-7) .240 BA this season is highest of his career (.214 in 2017)

Key Stat

35 BB vs. 23 SO over first 7 starts this season Won 13 games with 2.81 ERA for SD in 2014 On pace for 30+ starts for second straight season with SD Opponents batting .305 against the rookie 7.09 ERA is the worst of this 3 seasons with SD

CUBS vs. WASHINGTON NATIONALS...August 10-12

Season on the Brink

NATIONALS PARK

1500 South Capitol Street SE Washington, D.C. 20003 Capacity: 41,888 NATIONALS STAFF

Mike Rizzo, Pres. of Baseball Operations and GM #4-Dave Martinez, Manager

NATIONALS BENCH

#1-Wilmer Difo, INF #8-Brian Goodwin, OF #64-Spencer Kieboom, C #14-Mark Reynolds, INF #3-Michael Taylor, OF

NATIONALS BULLPEN

#69-Sean Doolittle, LHP #33-Matt Grace, LHP #40-Kelvin Herrera, RHP #27-Shawn Kelley, RHP #21-Brandon Kintzler, RHP #44-Ryan Madson, LHP #60-Justin Miller, RHP #51-Wander Suero, RHP #50-Austin Voth, RHP

The Fourth of July is supposed to be a day of celebration, but for the Washington Nationals it was the day they seemingly hit rock bottom. A 3-0 loss to the Red Sox at home dropped the Nationals to 42-43 overall. Washington had been in a free fall for weeks, losing 17 of 22 games. Things were so bad that the team held a dreaded “players only” meeting, a sure sign of desperation. The next game, Washington trailed the last-place Marlins 9-0 before rallying for a 14-12 win behind Trea Turner’s 8 RBI. Was it the sign of a true turnaround or simply a false positive? The next few months will tell, but one thing is clear: Washington is not going to dominate a weak division as it

THE STARTING LINEUP

THE ROTATION

Pos. SS LF 3B RF 1B 2B RF C Pos. RHP RHP LHP RHP RHP

No. #7 #22 #6 #34 #15 #20 #2 #32

No. #31 #37 #47 #57 #58

Player Trea Turner Juan Soto Anthony Rendon Bryce Harper Matt Adams Daniel Murphy Adam Eaton Matt Wieters

Pitcher Max Scherzer Stephen Strasburg Gio Gonzalez Tanner Roark Jeremy Hellickson

PAGE 32

has the past two years. The Nationals trailed both Atlanta and Philadelphia, two young teams on the rise, at the All-Star break. It’s going to be an uphill battle to a third straight division crown. Max Scherzer might be baseball’s best pitcher, but other than his dominance and the emergence of rookie Juan Soto, there haven’t been many positives. Heading into free agency, Bryce Harper has been a replacement level player for months. Stephen Strasburg has been hurt yet again. This was supposed to be Washington’s last best chance to reach the World Series, but now the Nationals are in a battle simply to extend their season into October. - by Steven Cline

Salary $577,200 $545,000 $12,300,000 $21,625,000 $4,000,000 $17,500,000 $6,300,000 $10,500,000

Key Stat 8 RBI in one game; 45 RBI is career-high for a single season Hit 1st MLB HR in suspended game officially 5 days before debut Drove in 100 runs for first time in career in 2017 Has never driven in 100 runs in a season .361 OBP and .557 SLG both represent career highs Injuries limited him to under 100 AB in the first half .320 BA in limited action pre-All-Star break 13 HR, 59 RBI in 502 AB w/WAS since signing 2-year deal

Salary $22,142,857 $16,428,571 $12,000,000 $6,475,000 $2,000,000

Key Stat On pace for 6th straight season of 200+ IP, 4th with WAS 200+ IP once in his 9 seasons (215 in 2014) 1.46 WHIP his worst since 2009 with OAK 12 losses before break more than he’s had in any season 43 SO vs. 10 BB in first 12 starts; best ratio of career CHICAGO BASEBALL

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CUBS vs. MILWAUKEE BREWERS...August 14-15

Milwaukee’s Best

If you asked casual baseball fans to name the National League team that has led its division nearly wire-to-wire this year, the one that reached 50 wins first, many would be hard pressed to nail the answer. MILLER PARK While the Cubs, Dodgers and Nationals were widely 1 Brewers Way considered to be the powers of the National League at the Milwaukee, WI 53214 beginning of the season, it is the Milwaukee Brewers who Capacity: 41,900 achieved those accomplishments. The real question is: can they maintain their superiority in BREWERS STAFF the second half? David Stearns, General Manager It’s a question Brewers fans are nervously asking after they #30-Craig Counsell, Manager watched their team lead the division for much of 2017 before faltering. Milwaukee actually had a significant lead at the All-Star BREWERS BENCH

#8-Ryan Braun, OF #23-Keon Broxton, OF #15-Erik Kratz, C #2-Nate Orf, INF #14-Hernan Perez, Util

BREWERS BULLPEN

#50-Jacob Barnes, RHP #39-Corbin Burnes, RHP #71-Josh Hader, LHP #32-Jeremy Jeffress, RHP #43-Dan Jennings, LHP #46-Corey Knebel, RHP #28-Jorge Lopez, RHP #54-Taylor Williams, RHP

THE STARTING LINEUP

THE ROTATION

Pos. RF CF LF 1B 3B 2B C SS Pos. RHP RHP RHP RHP RHP

No. #7 #6 #22 #24 #21 #10 #9 #13 No. #57 #45 #27 #41 #51

Player Eric Thames Lorenzo Cain Christian Yelich Jesus Aguilar Travis Shaw Brad Miller Manny Pina Tyler Saladino

Pitcher Chase Anderson Jhoulys Chacin Zach Davies Junior Guerra Freddy Peralta

break last season and still missed out on the postseason entirely. With the additions of veteran outfielders Christian Yelich (leading team in runs) and Lorenzo Cain (leading all NL position players in WAR) and the emergence of Josh Hader (16 SO/9 IP) and Jesus Aguilar (NL-leading home run total) as differencemakers, this team appears to have what it takes to compete for the long haul. They may not be able to hold off the Cubs for first place in the Central, but a wild card would give them a playoff appearance for the first time since 2011. - by Steven Cline

Salary $5,333,333 $14,000,000 $7,000,000 $557,200 $567,400 $2,709,677 $560,100 $565,000

Key Stat .901 OPS would represent a career high Third in NL in OBP behind Votto and Freeman Averaging better than a hit per game (86 in first 77 games) Leads team in all 3 Triple Crown categories On pace for second straight 30 HR, 100 RBI season Acquired from TB on 6/10/18 for Ji-Man Choi Hit first 3B of MLB career 6/19/18 @PIT Acquired from CWS on 4/19/18 for cash

Salary $5,000,000 $8,750,000 $572,000 $545,000 $545,000

Key Stat Should set a new career high for IP (152.2 in ’15) Hit a career-high 14 batters last season Opponents have batted .275 over past two seasons 2.79 ERA over his first 17 starts this year 13 SO in MLB debut on 5/13/18 @COL

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2018 MIDSEASON REPORT CARD by CHICAGO BASEBALL STAFF #

Player

20 40 53 9 13 17 2 44 27 18 5 8 22 12 45 33 21 41 11 32 6 59 54 28 34 38 15 62 47 46 51 37 29

Victor Caratini Willson Contreras Chris Gimenez Javier Baez David Bote Kris Bryant Tommy La Stella Anthony Rizzo Addison Russell Ben Zobrist Albert Almora Jr. Ian Happ Jason Heyward Kyle Schwarber Anthony Bass Eddie Butler Tyler Chatwood Steve Cishek Yu Darvish Brian Duensing Carl Edwards Jr. Luke Farrell Justin Hancock Kyle Hendricks Jon Lester Mike Montgomery Brandon Morrow Jose Quintana Randy Rosario Pedro Strop Duane Underwood Jr. Justin Wilson Rob Zastryzny

Pos. Grade First Half Stats C C C IF IF IF IF IF IF IF OF OF OF OF P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P

83 85 70 95 87 86 84 83 82 86 91 82 90 85 58 71 57 92 59 58 87 80 86 77 94 86 93 75 87 88 Inc. 83 74

.274, 0 HR, 8 RBI in 84 AB .279, 7 HR, 34 RBI in 294 AB .143, 0 HR, 1 RBI in 28 AB .292, 19 HR, 72 RBI in 343 AB .310, 1 HR, 9 RBI in 42 AB .280, 10 HR, 40 RBI in 282 AB .272, 0 HR, 14 RBI in 103 AB .246, 12 HR, 61 RBI in 317 AB .272, 5 HR, 34 RBI in 294 AB .285, 6 HR, 36 RBI in 249 AB .319, 4 HR, 28 RBI in 276 AB .256, 11 HR, 26 RBI in 234 AB .285, 6 HR, 41 RBI in 274 AB .249, 18 HR, 41 RBI in 265 AB 0-0, 0.63 ERA, 14 SO in 14.1 IP 0-1, 4.30 ERA, 10 SO in 14.2 IP 3-5, 5.04 ERA, 76 SO in 84.0 IP 2-1-3, 1.88 ERA, 47 SO in 43.0 IP 1-3, 4.95 ERA, 49 SO in 40.0 IP 2-0-1, 6.59 ERA, 18 SO in 27.1 IP 2-1, 2.89 ERA, 48 SO in 28.0 IP 3-3, 3.86 ERA, 37 SO in 28.0 IP 0-0, 1.46 ERA, 11 SO in 12.1 IP 6-8, 3.92 ERA, 83 SO in 110.1 IP 12-2, 2.58 ERA, 88 SO in 111.2 IP 3-3, 3.91 ERA, 48 SO in 76.0 IP 0-0-22, 1.47 ERA, 31 SO in 30.2 IP 8-6, 3.96 ERA, 87 SO in 97.2 IP 4-0, 1.95 ERA, 16 SO in 27.2 IP 4-1-2, 2.52 ERA, 39 SO in 39.1 IP 0-1, 2.25 ERA, 3 SO in 4.0 IP 3-2, 2.77 ERA, 56 SO in 39.0 IP 1-0, 4.76 ERA, 3 SO in 5.2 IP

Comments Promising young bat … Shouldn’t have been demoted … Prefers to be shaken not stirred Expecting more production from All-Star … Looking for big 2nd half … Keeping baserunners honest Was only here because of Yu … Impotent at the plate … Given a one-way ticket back to Iowa El Mago has been magnificent … Fulfilling his promise … A force all over the diamond … Mr. Fun Surprisingly effective in limited role … Future bodes well … Trade bait? Only 2 HR between May 15 and July 15 … Where’s the pop? … A sleeping giant 25th man could start for other teams … The Who’s Who of MLB pinch hitters … Mr. Underappreciated Uncharacteristic first half … HRs are down but still driving in runs … Starting to find his Mojo Average is up but production is down … Starting to use the whole field … Heating up after a slow start Still stirring the drink with those killer stirrups … Big Ben is back … Zo no longer so-so Maddon finally found his leadoff man or did he? … Needs to play everyday … More please Making most of platoon … Happy to have Ian … A redundancy … Trade Ian for an arm Finally making some hay … Good to see his bat again … Waiting for the other shoe to drop Very productive in platoon role but there’s still more there … Needs to lift average with RISP (.206) It’s all about that Bass … Something fishy about his low ERA … Hitters are taking the bait so far The Butler didn’t do it … Let’s be done with him now … Couldn’t answer the bell Mr. Bases on Balls … Should be considered his walk year … Send ‘em back to Tippecanoe Submariner has performed above expectations … Workhorse … Beware of second half fatigue Total bust to date … Sore arm, shattered ego … This head case is closed … Yu sucks Pitching like a dunce … Somebody put Duensing in a corner … Can he rediscover ’17 form? Lots of Ks, still too many walks … Filthy stuff when he’s on … Looking for October redemption Sky’s the limit for Luke if he limits walks … Another pleasant surprise from Iowa Putting his signature on the 2018 bullpen … ‘Cock needs to provide a bigger sample size Still searching for his groove … Look for second half rebound … In a purple haze at times The ace is back … A win machine … Could be 20-game winner for 1st time in career Swingman has been very valuable … Gave rotation a shot in the arm … Nice work Seamless transition to closer … Near perfect in first half … Nice branding job Too many BB for Q … Equal parts Jekyll & Hyde … Jose, have you seen your best days? Everything’s coming up roses for Randy … Is a second-half regression in store? Has been much more reliable … After pointing at the sky the good Lord now points back Spit up his cup of coffee … Back under cover in Iowa … Plenty of knocks on ‘Wood When he’s good he’s good, when he’s bad he’s a jackass … Slowly earning Maddon’s trust again Another brief cameo for the Z-man … Last alphabetically and last out of the ‘pen

2018 Cubs All-Stars Javier Baez, #9

Jon Lester, #34

Willson Contreras, #40

PAGE 36

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