Chicago Baseball – June-July 2018 Issue by Chicago Baseball

CHICAGOBASEBALL THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE CHICAGO CUBS

JAVY TIME Baez Puts His Stamp on 2018 p.

JUNE/JULY 2018

Breaking Away

Facts or Fakes?

Player Poster Vol. 23, No. 2

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INSIDE YOUR GUIDE TO CUBS BASEBALL

June/July 2018 • Vol. 23, No. 2

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

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

Left Field Media

Out of Left Field/The Foul Pole Unorthodox Stance/Point-Counterpoint Breaking Away One of a Kind Facts or Fakes? This Day in Cubs History Player Poster: Jon Lester 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: San Francisco Giants & Philadelphia Phillies PREVIEWS: Pittsburgh Pirates & Los Angeles Dodgers PREVIEWS: Minnesota Twins & Detroit Tigers PREVIEW: Cincinnati Reds 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

Show Me the Money Way

By Matt Smerge

he Cubs have signed plenty of big deals over the last few years. No, we’re not talking about Jon Lester, Jason Heyward or Yu Darvish. We’re talking about American Airlines, Sloan Valve Company and Nuveen Investments. These are just three “legacy partners” spending millions of dollars a year to sponsor the Cubs and take advantage of naming rights and signage in and around Wrigley Field and their spring training home in Mesa. The Cubs landed another such partner this offseason when they sold the naming rights to the Park at Wrigley to Gallagher, an unknown insurance company that offers coverage for watermelonrelated accidents. The whole town is abuzz. Cubs’ fans from 2 to 92 talk about planning their next trip to Gallagher Way. It just falls off the tongue like a watermelon seed on a sweltering day. Corporate sponsorships are nothing new for the Cubs or professional sports in general. But the Cubs and their broadcast partners are taking things to a whole new level. And we are all the poorer for their newfound riches. The Score AM-670 is in its third season airing Cubs games and is milking it for every possible dollar. We certainly don’t begrudge the commercials in between innings but the continuous in-game plugs and sponsorships are making it a tougher listen with every passing year. Home runs, strikeouts, pitching changes, Cardinals series and

The Foul Pole

PAGE 6

even uniform descriptions are sponsored with intrusive nonstop commercials. But the most egregious offender is WLS Channel 7 during its 25 games each season. A recent review found 23 separate in-game sponsorships. Gotta commend their creativity on some of these until you commence vomiting. A local Toyota dealer sponsors the “Countdown to the First Pitch” as well as the standings. The “Hooters Hot Play of the Game” is brought to you by Hooters. Would have been more interesting had it been Buffalo Wild Wings. Goodwill sponsors the pitching matchup, apparently also donating the Reds’ pitcher the day we watched. Leinenkugel’s has the “Perfect Pitch,” Four Seasons Heating gives you the “Weather at First Pitch.” Southwest Airlines brings you the Cubs’ starting lineup. Fix Auto Collision didn’t pay as much and got the opponent’s lineup. Other companies sponsor the 4th inning, the strike zone, the “Big Save of the Game,” the “Stat of the Game” and the “Call to the Bullpen.” Sport Clips sponsors the “Father and Son Moment at the Game.” The one we saw featured a dad shaven bald and a kid wearing a ballcap. Perfect fit for a hair cut place. Then there are six different car companies sponsoring other slots. It’s completely absurd and only figures to get worse when the Cubs start their own TV network in 2020. Then we may actually see Buffalo Wild Wings sponsor the “Hooters Hot Play of the Game.”

by Jim Siergey

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UNORTHODOX STANCE

Greed Is Great By Steven Cline

inning a World Series is not an easy thing for any team to do, let alone one with a century-plus history of mediocrity mixed with the occasional season of heartbreak. So you might think that 2016 would satisfy Cubs’ fans. Instead, we agonize over losses in April and early May. We keep telling each other it’s early, it’s so early, there’s nothing to worry about, and all the while we worry. We fear that 2018 will be another season of good, even very good, but not great. Given the Cubs’ history, shouldn’t very good be enough? Can’t we be happy with a string of division titles and a playoff series victory each year? Wouldn’t most teams in baseball kill for that success? No. We can’t. And who cares? Here’s why: the ’85 Bears. The 1985 Bears are perhaps the most beloved team in Chicago sports history. They

lost a single game, allowed 10 postseason points and steamrolled their way to victory in Super Bowl XX. And that’s all they won. A team with multiple Hall of Famers— Walter Payton, Richard Dent, Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary, da Coach—should have been a dynasty. Instead, it produced a single magical season. I still have flashbacks to Charles Mann and Dexter Manley collapsing the pocket on Doug Flut-ie as Washington ended the 14-2 Bears season in 1986. Only the ’84 Cubs hurt my heart as much as the ’86 Bears. If the Cubs are some day mentioned in the same breath as the ’85 Bears, that will be sad. These Cubs are too young and too talented to win a single title. One of the top managers and best gen-eral managers in the game are in charge. They have all the resources, both human and mone-tary, to be a powerhouse.

That is why it is OK to be greedy for more World Series, more October victories, more parades through Wrigleyville. That is why we get frustrated when the Cubs are a few games over .500 in May. We’ve waited our whole lives for the Cubs to be great. Good, even very good, is no longer acceptable. We know what dynasties look like. We’ve seen the Bulls three-peat, not once but twice. We’ve celebrated the Blackhawks winning three Cups in five years. The Cubs can be another dynasty. They have all the components. And they don’t seem to have the egos that torpedoed the Bears’ chances for another Lombardi Trophy. Cubs’ fans won’t be satisfied until the team wins at least one more championship, and that’s a great, not a good, not even a very good, thing.

POINT - COUNTERPOINT

Should MLB Realign and Do Away with the NL & AL?

Yes.

By Allen Yanong

But only if expansion happens. The addition of two more teams to a total of 32 would allow for a realignment that makes mathematical sense. One of the popular proposals would be moving to four eight-team divisions. Teams would be grouped geographically thus reducing the amount of travel time for teams. Additionally, a shortened game schedule would be in play, likely to 156, which could allow a regular day off each week. Teams would also get to play every team in the league, effectively removing the need for the tired concept of interleague play. Regardless of the actual final alignment, the league can now standardize its rules and that means the DH for all. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a lifelong National League guy and have always enjoyed seeing the strategy employed when the pitcher’s spot comes up. But the DH is not going anywhere and in this day and age of specialized relievers, it only makes sense to have pitchers facing hitters all the time. Plus, there would be the potential bonus of shorter games (fewer pitching changes) - a recent thorn in MLB’s side. And finally, don’t fear the loss of the traditional rivalries. If anything, they’ll be ramped up. Just imagine the Cubs, Cardinals and White Sox all battling for a division title. Now that’s a lot of baseball.

PAGE 8

No.

By Mark Sliwinski

Baseball has made a lot of changes over the past 20 years, many of which have been great for the game (interleague play and the implementation of wild cards to name a couple). But abolishing the AL and NL is going too far. First of all, the Designated Hitter issue would need to be addressed. For aficionados of the NL style of play, don’t count on the DH being eliminated anytime soon. The players union will never let it happen. In addition, the historic integrity of the leagues would be lost. That’s 150 years of tradition down the tubes! Fan favorite divisional rivalries could be lost for good: Cubs/ Cardinals, Yankees/Red Sox and Dodgers/Giants. Also what would it mean for the World Series? As fun as it would be to see the Cubs face the White Sox in a playoff series, with realignment they could never play each other in the Fall Classic as they would likely play in the same division. While the chances of the Cubs and White Sox both making the World Series this season are slim and none, I like that it’s a possibility in the future as long as the AL and NL still exist. Who knows? Chicago could see the ultimate series for city bragging rights in our lifetime and that’s only happening one way – maintaining the status quo.

CHICAGO BASEBALL

FEATURE STORY

Breaking Away

t’s déjà vu all over again. That’s how Yogi Berra would have summed up the start to the Cubs’ 2018 season. On May 21 the North Siders found themselves two games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central just as they had exactly one year earlier. Like 2017 the Cubs were good in stretches, bad in stretches, but mostly maddeningly inconsistent while not playing up to their full potential. Despite a plus-72 run differential through 44 games, the Cubs were just six games above .500, which represented their high-water mark of 2018. April 26 through May 12 saw the Jeckyll and Hyde Cubs win five straight before losing five straight before winning another five in a row. Will the roller coaster continue into the All-Star break like it did last season or can the Cubs go on a prolonged winning streak and break away from the pack sooner than they did a year ago? Here are a few issues they’ll need to resolve first. Feast or Famine The Cubs’ offense continues to either score runs in bunches or go cold for extended stretches. Cub hitters are exceptional at victimizing bad pitching but can struggle making contact against elite hurlers, which haunted them in both the 2015 and 2017 NLCS. Over their first 44 contests the North Siders scored 10 or more runs nine times but were also held to two or fewer runs 13 times. They were 9-3 in blowout games (5+ run margin), but only 5-7 in one-run games. The oddest stretch may have been April 26-May 3 when the Cubs scored just 17 runs over eight games yet still managed to win five times with some dominant pitching. Their offense still relies heavily on the home run and the lineup boasts a number of perennially streaky hitters. Dealing with a cranky back, Anthony Rizzo was hitting .203 with a .662 OPS on May 20. It took a mid-May tear to get Willson Contreras’ numbers back up to respectability while a hot streak for Addison Russell finally yielded his first

By Matt Smerge home run on May 9. And Ian Happ was the streakiest of the bunch, striking out at close to a 50% clip while still managing an .870 OPS. With some consistently warmer weather, will they heat up together and spread the runs out more evenly? History is on their side. For a streaky offense that still ranked second in the NL in runs through 44 games, there remains much greater potential. Yu and Q Despite ranking second in the NL in ERA, the Cubs were 11th in quality starts mostly due to the early season struggles of Yu Darvish and Jose Quintana. Perhaps feeling the pressure of his offseason deal for $126 million, Darvish underperformed badly over the season’s first several weeks, often failing to get past the dreaded fifth inning. After a stint on the 10-Day DL with an acute case of the Cubbie Blue Flu, Yu finally recorded his first win as a Cub on May 20. With stuff that moves all over the place, Darvish can be a force again if he manages to get things straight between his ears. Quintana posted four quality starts over his first nine outings, getting hit hard in the other five. His middling performance and ERA approaching five has many observers regretting the trade for Eloy Jimenez more than ever. The D Defensive lapses have perplexed manager Joe Maddon more than anything else in 2018. The Cubs ranked second from the bottom in the NL in both errors and fielding percentage through 44 games. Only the Giants were worse. Javier Baez is still making plenty of spectacular plays all over the diamond, but he also led the league in errors. Russell, Contreras and Kris Bryant were also guilty of committing too many miscues. Even perennial Gold Glover Jason Heyward is starting to drop easy fly balls. What happened to the Cubs’ club that broke records for defensive efficiency in

PAGE 10

2016? More “clean” games could be the biggest key to getting back to the dazzling heights of two seasons ago. I Can Be Centerfield Alberta Almora wants to know what more he needs to do to be proclaimed the everyday centerfielder. The 2012 6th overall draft pick is hitting over .300 against both righties and lefties while playing Gold Glove caliber defense in center. Almora has also excelled in the leadoff spot with a .376 OBP. So the 24-year-old is making a strong case to be the full time leadoff man and centerfielder. But Maddon continues to throw Happ into the mix, along with the occasional start in center for Heyward. The Cubs are a better team when Almora is in center. Period. But Maddon’s lineup tinkering figures to continue indefinitely. The answer to his perpetual leadoff quandary is right before his four eyes and badly dyed hair. Just put him in, coach. He’s ready to play. Today. Strange Brew The Brewers were pegged to provide some stiff competition for the NL Central title again in 2018. But few had predicted the burgeoning four-team race in the division. Fewer than two games separated the top four teams in the NL Central on May 21. It remains to be seen if the Cardinals and upstart Pirates can stay in the mix for the long haul, but it looks to be a much more competitive division than expected. No other division in baseball boasted four teams at least six games above .500 at the quarter pole. The Cubs took seven of their first eight games from Milwaukee, including a four-game sweep at Wrigley in late April. Meanwhile, the Brewers went 27-12 against other opponents. If anything, Milwaukee is better and more confident than last season. Hopefully, the Cubs will still have their number come September. CHICAGO BASEBALL

Albert Almora Jr., #5

FEATURE STORY

One of a Kind

By Steven Cline

t’s tough finding a comp for Javier Baez.Baseball loves to proclaim someone “the next …” Carlos Correa is the next Derek Jeter. Aaron Judge is the next Mickey Mantle. But Javy is the next … who? The Baseball Reference website has a feature called “Similarity Score.” Look up a current play-er and you can see whom, statistically, he most resembles from baseball’s past. The list for Baez looks like the baseball cards you would give away: Geronimo Pena, Wilmer Flores, Tim Becham, Eugenio Suarez, Rickie Weeks—even former Brewers’ manager Dale Sveum. The on-ly notable player on the list is Bobby Grich. None of them even remotely remind me of Baez. Here are some better comps. As a batter, he has a little bit of Vlad Guerrero to him. Like Guerrero before him, Baez will swing at anything—Guerrero famously singled off a curveball that bounced in front of the plate— Javier Baez, #9

PAGE 12

and make hard contact. As a baserunner, he’s as instinctive as Willie Mays. Now, I have to admit, I never saw Willie Mays play, but Baez on the base paths reminds me of the stories I’ve read about Mays as a baserunner— fearless, inventive, a force of nature. As a fielder, he has the flair of Ozzie Smith. And he could probably do a back flip if you asked him. That’s right. Baez comps more to legends than statistics. In a game that loves numbers, Baez is not a numbers player. He’s a living, breathing, diving, belly-sliding, hair-dying, free-swinging player. You can’t take your eyes off of him, even as his batting average hovers around .250. (For the record, his career batting average is .255.) Early in his career, Baez was riveting for the wrong reasons. It was difficult to believe that a major league player could swing at so many pitches off the plate. As a 21-year-old rookie, he struck out 95 times in 229 at bats. That’s Rob Deer bad. That’s Joey Gallo bad. Baez swung and missed at pitches that the catcher sometimes had a tough time corralling. So far this season, the numbers have begun to catch up with his game. Through May 20, Baez led the National League in RBIs. His 11 home runs put him in the top 5 in the league. And his .543 slugging percentage ranked top 25 in baseball, better than Bryce Harper, Giancarlo Stan-ton, Charlie Blackmon and teammate Anthony Rizzo. At 25, Baez has improved so much that he is well on his way to making his first All-Star Game. He has not—and this is so Baez— followed the usual path to improvement. The common narrative being that he would have to cut down on a swing that often brought him—and not the pitcher—to his knees. Well, that hasn’t happened. Baez swings at more pitches than any player in baseball at over 60 percent. He swings at over half the first pitches he sees: 54 percent. Here’s the stat that bog-gles the mind, though. Baez swings at 46 percent of pitches outside the strike zone, the most in baseball. Most good hitters force the pitcher to throw a strike and then punish one in the zone. Baez simply hits everything. He has become not more selective but more effective. It shouldn’t be surprising, though. There is really nothing ordinary about Javy. Consider that he’s one of the most exciting baserunners in all of baseball—and he has all of 33 career stolen bases over five seasons. That was a good month for Rickey Henderson. Consider that he’s not only the Cubs’ best defensive second baseman but he’s their best defensive third baseman and possibly shortstop, too. Consider that in this era of the no-shame strikeout, he’s actually cutting down on his. After whiffing 144 times in 469 at-bats last season, Baez had 40 strikeouts in his first 167 at bats. It’s not exactly Tony Gwynn, but it’s an improvement. Gallo leads baseball with 66 whiffs in 173 at bats, by the way. He hasn’t done it the usual way, by increasing his walks. He has only six all season, ranking 267th in baseball. He’s done it by being himself, only more so, by moving ever closer to peak Baez. I can’t wait to see what that looks like. My guess is it’s unlike anyone we’ve ever seen on the diamond before. CHICAGO BASEBALL

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FEATURE STORY

Facts or Fakes?

ake news is everywhere. It’s becoming virtually impossible to tell what’s real and what’s fake anymore, kinda like breasts in Hollywood. Our fearless president makes fake news then decries fake news in the same tweet. Social media, Info Wars and Russian bots have further blurred the lines between what’s fake and what’s just preposterous. And then there’s the mainstream media, the alternative media and the Deep State. Is that Louisiana or Mississippi? Either way, nothing but fake news comes out of those places. Sadly, the world of fake news has even hit Cubs nation. We’re here to help sift through the lies and alternative facts. Let’s examine a few recent Cubs-related headlines for validity. Feel free to tweet #Failing Chicago Baseball Magazine if you happen to disagree. Russia Colluded With the Indians to Throw the 2016 World Series Sordid details have emerged about Vladimir Putin blackmailing Indians’ manager Terry Francona after he was caught alone with several gallons of ice cream in a Chicago hotel room. Did the Rocky Road tape lead to the Cubs finally ending their World Series drought? We tend to doubt this one. Seems the Russians were pretty busy with something else in October of 2016. Addison Russell Is Really a .240 with 12 HR Guy This one seems right.

PAGE 14

By Matt Smerge Manny Machado Is Coming to the Cubs Jon Heyman has reported that Machado is the Cubs’ main target heading into the trade deadline. Still seems fake. Hasn’t Theo Epstein learned from previous deadline deals that sent future stars Gleyber Torres and Eloy Jimenez to American League clubs? Javier Baez Is the Next Manny Ramirez Joe Maddon continues to spread this headline. We love seeing the strides Javy is making but this seems pretty darn fake. Chris “Mad Dog” Russo Is the Last Person Maddon Speaks to Before Bed We totally buy this one. Just Like Donald Trump enjoys his nightly pillow talk with Fox News Channel’s supercilious charlatan Sean Hannity, Maddon must get many of his nutty ideas from MLB Network’s Russo. MLB Doesn’t Want Ben Zobrist Wearing Black Shoes Because It’s Racist Yep, this seems to be on sound footing. In the age of Trump, black is out. Look for MLB to mandate white shoes throughout baseball by Opening Day 2019. Justin Wilson Is Homeless It’s a moot point. The floundering Cubs’ reliever couldn’t find home with a GPS, Google maps, Mapquest, AAA or directions from Gomer at the filling station. Crane Kenney Is Addicted to Starbucks It’s a sad story. The Tribune lawyer turned hatchet man has been spotted having extra espresso shot lattes several times a day with imaginary construction workers.

Kenney Paid Off Tom Ricketts’ Former Realtors to Keep Them Quiet Apparently Ricketts has a thing for young real estate agents with low commission rates. This helped him buy up the neighborhood for a song. Go Cubs Go. It’s still unknown whether or not Ricketts paid his attorney back. The New Ricketts Hotel Zachary Is Infested with Lice That might explain all the bald, middleaged white men exiting the hotel at all hours of the day and night. Jake Arrieta Is Tipping Yu Darvish’s Pitches Details are sketchy but it seems to involve telepathy, hypnosis and Japanese green tea. Sammy Sosa Has No Ego and Never Took Steroids Some are calling it the greatest witchhunt in the history of baseball. They’re also saying there is collusion between Ricketts and former Cubs (possibly Mark Grace and Jeff Blauser) to prevent Sosa from returning to Wrigley Field forever. It’s sad. Climate Change Is Real This has to be fake news. Otherwise, why all the cold weather and postponed games this April? Global warming is obviously a hoax, if not a conspiracy theory. Fake, fake, fake. Sad, sad, sad. The fake news media strikes again. Fear not, the ice in your Jim Beam on the rocks won’t melt any faster in the Wrigley bleachers than it has before.

CHICAGO BASEBALL

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FEATURE STORY

This Day in Cubs History By Matt Smerge May 25, 1982 – Fergie Jenkins whiffs Garry Templeton to notch his 3000th career strikeout during a 2-1 loss to the Padres at Jack Murphy Stadium. May 26, 1997 – Sammy Sosa and the Pirates’ Tony Womack hit inside the park home runs in the 6th inning of a Cubs’ 2-1 victory at Three Rivers Stadium, marking the first time in 20 years that two inside the parkers are recorded in the same inning. May 27, 1922 – The Reds sweep a doubleheader from the Cubs (8-1 and 7-6) at Crosley Field. Chicago pitchers tie a major league record by allowing nine triples.

June 29, 1969 – Billy Williams breaks Stan Musial’s NL record for consecutive games played with 896 in a doubleheader sweep of the Cardinals on Billy Williams Day before 40,060 at the Friendly Confines. Williams is given a new car, fishing boat, trailer, combination washer-dryer, watch, pool table and Weimaraner puppy in pregame ceremonies. June 30, 2002 – Mark Bellhorn homers from both sides of the plate in a 9-2 win over the White Sox at Comiskey Park. July 1, 1987 – Greg Maddux notches his first career shutout in a 1-0 win over the Expos at Olympic Stadium.

June 5, 1998 – Brant Brown clubs a walk-off home run as the Cubs down the White Sox 6-5 at the Friendly Confines.

July 3, 1960 – Ron Santo slams his first career home run before 17,205 at Wrigley as the Cubs beat the Reds 7-5.

June 6, 1946 – Frank Secory clubs a walk-off grand slam in the 12th inning to propel the Cubs past the New York Giants 10-6 at Wrigley. The Cubs had blown a 6-0 lead in the game.

July 4, 1900 – An estimated 1000 fans celebrate Independence Day by shooting pistols into the air during the Orphans (Cubs) 5-4, 12-inning win over Philadelphia at West Side Grounds.

June 7, 1906 – The Cubs score 11 first inning runs off Hall of Famers Christy Mathewson and Joe McGinnity in a 19-0 rout of the Giants at West Side Grounds. The “Christian Gentleman,” who retired just one batter while yielding six walks, was probably still feeling the effects of diphtheria that he contracted during spring training.

July 6, 1977 – Cubs’ outfielder Greg Gross finally goes deep with a three-run homer in an 8-6 win over the Expos at Wrigley. Gross had started his career going homerless in 1887 plate appearances.

June 8, 1936 – Cubs trainer Andy Lotshaw leaps from the dugout to attend to a fan that was struck by a foul ball. It turns out to be his wife. Fortunately, she isn’t badly hurt and the Cubs shut out the Phillies 3-0 at Wrigley Field.

July 7, 2011 – The Cubs erase an eight-run deficit to down the Nationals 10-9 in Washington. Darwin Barney’s 9th inning double scores the winning run. July 8, 1947 – Wrigley Field hosts its first All-Star game as the AL edges the NL 2-1. Phil Cavarretta and Andy Pafko represent the Cubs.

June 9, 1961 – Moe Thacker delivers the walk-off single against Braves’ Hall of Famer Warren Spahn in an 11-10 win on the North Side. June 10, 2004 – A 10-run 4th inning highlights the Cubs 12-3 drubbing of the Cardinals at Wrigley. They tie a club record with 11 hits in the inning, nine of them in succession. June 18, 1939 – The Cubs sweep a doubleheader from the Brooklyn Dodgers at Wrigley. Dizzy Dean tosses a shutout and Gabby Hartnett homers to give them a 1-0 win in the opener and Bill Lee hurls a complete game to take the nightcap 9-1. June 19, 1978 – The Cubs open up a three-game lead in the NL East with a 6-4 10-inning win over the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Manny Trillo leads the offense with two hits and two RBIs. Bruce Sutter blows the save but gets the win. June 20, 1953 – Hank Sauer homers but the Dodgers beat the Cubs 5-3 in 104-degree heat at Wrigley. PAGE 16

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CHICAGO BASEBALL

2018 CUBS 40-MAN ROSTER

No. Pitchers

Player

B/T

Ht.

Wt.

Birthdate

Adbert Alzolay

R/R

6’0”

179

3/1/95

Eddie Butler

R/R

6’2”

180

3/13/91

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

Jose Quintana

R/L

6’1”

220

1/24/89

Randy Rosario

L/L

6’1”

200

5/18/94

Shae Simmons

R/R

5’11”

190

9/3/90

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

Tommy La Stella

L/R

5’11”

180

1/31/89

Catchers Infielders

Efren Navarro

L/L

6’0”

210

5/14/86

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 Manny Watch Is On

The National League seems ripe for the taking. With the other NL heavyweights, the WRIGLEY FIELD Nationals and Dodgers, both faltering in their respective divisions and dealing with 1060 W. Addison St. key injuries, the Cubs path to the pennant Chicago, IL 60613 seems less cluttered. Sure, the season is still Capacity: 41,649 young but it could be a good year to return to a Fall Classic. Most of the baseball’s elite CUBS STAFF teams appear to be in the junior circuit. Theo Epstein, President That said, the Cubs suddenly finally Jed Hoyer, Exec. VP/GM find themselves in the most competitive #70 – Joe Maddon, Mgr. division in the majors. A four-team race has #58 – Mike Borzello developed with the upstart Pirates playing #55 – Brian Butterfield better than expected. #63 – Juan Cabreja It remains to be seen if it will evolve #30 – Chili Davis into a two-team race between the Cubs and #65 – Franklin Font Brewers like last season. #19 – Andy Haines By mid-May the rumor mill was abuzz #48 – Jim Hickey with talk of the Cubs targeting a trade for #16 – Brandon Hyde Manny Machado to increase their World #95 – Chad Noble Series odds. The mill said it might only take #35 – Lester Strode Addison Russell and a couple prospects. #25 – Will Venable With the trade deadline still many MINOR LEAGUE weeks away, let’s focus on the current roster and name three things that need to happen AFFILIATES to help the Cubs win their third straight Iowa Cubs (AAA) NL Central title with or without Machado. Tennessee Smokies (AA) Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A) 1. Get Anthony Rizzo Back on Track South Bend Cubs (A) Back stiffness landed him on the 10-Day Eugene Emeralds (A) DL in April and he’s had a hard time finding consistency at the plate ever since. Rizzo even revealed that he’s had issues with his back “locking up” in the past although

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

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

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

THE ROTATION

Pos.

Anthony Rizzo, #44

2017 RECORD: 92-70 Won NL Central At Home: 48-33 Runs Scored: 822 On Road: 44-37 Runs Against: 695 In X-tra: 7-3 Differential: +127 In One-Run: 26-17

PAGE 28

LHP RHP RHP LHP RHP

No.

#34 #28 #11 #62 #21

Pitcher

Jon Lester Kyle Hendricks Yu Darvish Jose Quintana Tyler Chatwood

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

$27,500,000 $4,175,000 $25,000,000 $8,850,000 $12,500,000

2017 CUBS BATTING LEADERS Batting Average

Kris Bryant (.295)

HR RBIs

typically later in the season. This is cause for concern for the Cubs who depend on his 30-plus homers and 100-plus RBIs in the middle of their order. 2. Limit the Walks Through May 20 only the White Sox had yielded more walks than the Cubs in either league. Not good company to keep and not a characteristic typically found among World Series contenders. Tyler Chatwood walked an astounding 34 batters in his first 43.0 innings pitched while Jose Quintana wasn’t too far behind. Justin Wilson led the relievers with 16 free passes in 17.1 innings. Chatwood, Quintana, Wilson, Yu Darvish, Steve Cishek, Carl Edwards Jr. and Brian Duensing were all averaging more than a walk every two innings. 3. Bullpen Doesn’t Burn Out Despite the walks, the Cubs bullpen ranked among the best in baseball over the first two months. Brandon Morrow has been lights out as closer while Edwards, Cishek, Duensing, Pedro Strop and Mike Montgomery have also done their jobs. But Cishek, Duensing, Edwards and Strop each appeared in 20 or more of the first 44 games. Will they hold up in the second half, especially when the Cubs play a stretch of 23 games without a day off starting August 21? - by Matt Smerge

Key Stat Hitting .274 in day games, .350 at night this season Batting .447 vs. lefties, .257 against righties in 2018 Hitting .264 at home, .167 on the road this year 21 of his first 42 hits went for extra bases in 2018 6 of his first 8 HRs came on the road this season Hitting .222 in day games, .295 at night this year Drove in 38 runs in his first 42 games in 2018 Batting .175 at home, .258 on the road this season Key Stat

Recorded 4 Quality Starts in his first 9 starts this year Yielded 9 HRs and 11 BBs over his first 55.2 IP in 2018 Pitched past the 5th inning 3 times in his first 8 starts this season Lefties are batting .163 against him, righties .275 in 2018 Has a 3.67 ERA in day games, 2.25 at night this year

2017 CUBS PITCHING LEADERS ERA

Kyle Hendricks (3.03)

Anthony Rizzo (32)

Wins

Jake Arrieta (14) Jon Lester (180)

Anthony Rizzo (109)

Strikeouts

OBP

Kris Bryant (.409)

Saves

Wade Davis (32)

Runs

Kris Bryant (111)

Holds

Carl Edwards Jr. (25) CHICAGO BASEBALL

CUBS vs. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS...May 25-27

Giants Go Old School

AT&T PARK

24 Willie Mays Plaza San Francisco, CA 94107 Capacity: 41,503 GIANTS STAFF

Laurence Baer, Pres. and CEO #5-Bruce Bochy, Manager GIANTS BENCH

#7-Gorkys Hernandez, OF #5-Nick Hundley, C #8-Hunter Pence, OF #48-Pablo Sandoval, INF #37-Kelby Tomlinson, INF GIANTS BULLPEN

#49-Sam Dyson, RHP #62-Cory Gearrin, RHP #58-Pierce Johnson, RHP #41-Mark Melancon, RHP #13-Will Smith, LHP #60-Hunter Strickland, RHP #59-Andrew Suarez, LHP #66-Jose Valdez, RHP

These days, a baseball team that loses nearly 100 games almost always does whatever it can to get younger. It trades away veteran assets and earns the highest possible draft picks in order to rebuild slowly for the long haul. The San Francisco Giants, though, said no tanks. Coming off a 64-98 season that saw them finish behind the perpetually-rebuilding Padres, the Gi-ants traded for established, veteran stars to jolt a lineup that scored the second fewest runs in base-ball (only San Diego scored fewer in 2017). They dealt with Pittsburgh for former NL MVP An-drew McCutchen to energize a woeful outfield and Tampa Bay for former AL Rookie of the Year Evan Longoria to fill a glaring hole at third base.

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

THE STARTING LINEUP

While most of baseball zigs, the Giants zagged. Through the first two months of the season, it sort of worked. As of May 20, the Giants were 23-24 and only three games out in the National League West. McCutchen and Longoria, both batting around .250, had hardly revitalized a moribund offense, though. In fact, through 40 games, San Francisco was on pace to score even fewer runs than in 2017. Star pitcher Madison Bumgarner was scheduled to return in June from a broken finger, giving the rotation a boost. But even so, the Giants will be hard-pressed to keep their streak alive of making the postseason every even numbered year since 2010. - by Steven Cline

No. #1 #12 #22 #28 #9 #10 #35 #16

Player Gregor Blanco Joe Panik Andrew McCutchen Buster Posey Brandon Belt Evan Longoria Brandon Crawford Austin Jackson

Salary $1,000,000 $3,450,000 $14,750,000 $22,180,000 $17,200,000 $13,670,000 $15,200,000 $3,000,000

Key Stat Achieved 1,000th total base of his career 5/19/18 215 total bases in 2017 set new single-season personal best Rapped out 1,500th hit of his career 5/14/18 vs. CIN Career .308 BA; one of only 8 catchers to hit .300+ for career .303 BA; has never hit .300 or better for a season Scored 800th run of his career 5/15/18 vs. CIN Hit career-high 34 2Bs in 2017 Career .275 BA; hit .231 in first 108 ABs this year

No. #40 #34 #29 #45 #50

Pitcher Madison Bumgarner Chris Stratton Jeff Samardjiza Derek Holland Ty Blach

Salary $12,000,000 $552,500 $19,800,000 $1,750,000 $565,000

Key Stat Career numbers: 104-76 w/3.01 ERA and 1.01 WHIP Posted 4.88 ERA over first 9 starts this year 12-11 in ’16 for SF; 10-17 since Held opponents to .229 BA in first 9 starts; career mark .265 12-16 w/4.35 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 3 seasons

THE ROTATION

CUBS vs. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES...June 5-7

Phillies on a Hot Streak

CITIZENS BANK PARK

1 Citizens Bank Way Philadelphia, PA 19148 Capacity: 44,647

PHILLIES STAFF

Matt Klentak, GM #22-Gabe Kapler, Manager PHILLIES BENCH

#18-Pedro Florimon, INF #4-Scott Kingery, Util. #64-Andrew Knapp, C #9-Jesmuel Valentin, INF #5-Nick Williams, OF

PHILLIES BULLPEN

#64-Victor Arano, RHP #58-Seranthony Dominguez, RHP #57-Luis Garcia, RHP #40-Tommy Hunter, RHP #33-Drew Hutchison, RHP #46-Adam Morgan, LHP #50-Hector Neris, RHP #17-Pat Neshek, RHP #61-Edubray Ramos, RHP

The city of Philadelphia is on a sports hot streak. In February, the Eagles won the franchise’s first Super Bowl, defeating Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and their New England dynasty, no less. In April, Villanova won the men’s basketball championship for the second time in three years, defeating Brady’s alma mater in the title game. In May, the 76ers played in the second round of the NBA playoffs, meeting the Celtics who enacted some Boston-based revenge. As the calendar turned to June, the Phillies were right in the hunt in the National League East. Phil-adelphia winning the division would be the biggest upset of the bunch. Since last ending up on top in 2011, the Phillies have finished an

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

Pos. RHP RHP RHP RHP RHP

THE STARTING LINEUP No. #16 #41 #37 #17 #23 #7 #38 #2

Player Cesar Hernandez Carlos Santana Odubel Herrera Rhys Hoskins Aaron Altherr Maikel Franco Jorge Alfaro J.P. Crawford

THE ROTATION No. #49 #27 #43 #28 #56

Pitcher Jake Arrieta Aaron Nola Nick Pivetta Vince Velasquez Zach Eflin

PAGE 30

average of 24 games out of first. New manager and fitness fanatic Gabe Kapler has brought a palpable energy to the team. Late free agent signee and former Cub Jake Arrieta is the ace to lead a promising pitching staff. And young position players such as Odubel Herrera, Maikel Franco, Cesar Hernandez and Rhys Hoskins power a lineup that ranked fifth in the National League in runs scored in the early going. The Phillies’ rebuild accelerated with the signing of Arrieta and veteran free agent first baseman Carlos Santana. Now they are ahead of schedule. Let’s see if they can keep that hot streak going in 2018 for Philadelphia sports fans. - by Steven Cline

Salary $5,100,000 $18,500,000 $3,550,000 $552,500 $561,000 $2,950,000 $547,000 $545,500

Key Stat On pace to easily best career high for HRs in a season (9 in ’17) Scored 600th run of career 5/16/18 @BAL Reached base in 45th consecutive game 5/19/18 @STL 18 HRs in 170 ABs in 2017 104 Ks/101 Hs in 372 ABs in 2017 Career-high 25 HRs and 88 RBIs in 2016 .318 BA in 102 ABs in 2017 Hit first MLB HR 4/11/18 vs. CIN

Salary $30,000,000 $573,000 $551,000 $559,000 $507,500

Key Stat Won 68 games in 4+ seasons w/Cubs 6-1 w/1.99 ERA in first 9 starts this season Allowed 25 HRs in 133 IP in 2017 Hasn’t pitched more than 131 innings in a season Earned 1st win of season w/6.2 shutout innings 5/7/18 vs. SF CHICAGO BASEBALL

CUBS vs. PITTSBURGH PIRATES...June 8-10

Surprise, Surprise

PNC PARK

115 Federal Street Pittsburgh, PA 15212 Capacity: 38,362 PIRATES STAFF

Neal Huntington, GM # 13 - Clint Hurdle, Mgr. PIRATES BENCH

#32-Elias Diaz, C #23-David Freese, INF #17-Austin Meadows, OF #19-Colin Moran, INF #38-Max Moroff, INF #3-Sean Rodriguez, UTIL

PIRATES BULLPEN

#43-Steven Brault, LHP #30-Kyle Crick, RHP #45-Michael Feliz, RHP #24-Tyler Glasnow, RHP #70-George Kontos, RHP #37-Edgar Santana, RHP #31-A.J. Schugel, RHP #73-Felipe Vazquez, LHP

If there was a surprise team in baseball the first two months of the season, it would be the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pittsburgh spent the offseason unloading its star players— not the usual recipe for success. The Pi-rates sent Gerrit Cole to Houston, where he is putting together a Cy Young Award-worthy season. Andrew McCutchen was traded to San Francisco where he’s trying to help the Giants get back in the playoffs. In spite of those subtractions, the Pirates sat near the top of a highly-competitive National League Central in the early going. An unheralded lineup has produced the second most runs

THE STARTING LINEUP

THE ROTATION

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

No. #5 #25 #6 #55 #12 #29 #26 #10 No. #46 #59 #50 #39 #57

Player Josh Harrison Gregory Polanco Starling Marte Josh Bell Corey Dickerson Francisco Cervelli Adam Frazier Jordy Mercer Pitcher Ivan Nova Joe Musgrove Jameson Taillon Chad Kuhl Trevor Williams

in the National League. Corey Dickerson, an under-the-radar February acquisition from Tampa Bay, paced the offense with a .318 average and 27 RBIs in his first 38 games with the team. The Pirates also got strong performances from young starters Trevor Williams (5-2 with 2.72 ERA through first 9 starts), Chad Kuhl (4-2 with 47 Ks in 9 starts) and Jameson Taillon (3.97 ERA in 9 starts). Add in a shut-down season from closer Felipe Vazquez (9-for-9 in saves, 2-0 with a 2.41 ERA) and you have a winning recipe. A lack of depth may hamstring the Pirates as they try to outlast the Cubs, Brewers and Cardinals for the division title, but at least early on they got the job done. - by Steven Cline

Salary $7,750,000 $1,600,000 $5,333,333 $549,000 $3,025,000 $9,000,000 $507,500 $4,325,000

Key Stat Missed most of April/May w/broken hand On pace to top his career-high 22 HRs in ‘16 Slugging over .500; previous high .456 in ‘16 Struck out 34 times in first 152 ABs this season Struck out 17 times in first 148 ABs this season .415 OBP leads all MLB catchers 6 3Bs in 406 ABs in ‘17 Hit 50th career HR 5/6/18 @MIL

Salary $7,666,667 $543,400 $555,500 $550,000 $544,000

Key Stat Allowing opposing batters to hit .290, worst since ‘14 Acquired in Cole trade with HOU Tossed 1st complete game shutout 4/8/18 vs. CIN Allowed 9 HRs in first 45 IP this season On pace to pitch 200 innings for first time

CUBS vs. LOS ANGELES DODGERS...June 18-20

World Series and Bust

DODGER STADIUM

1000 Elysian Park Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012 Capacity: 56,000 DODGERS STAFF

Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations #30-Dave Roberts, Manager DODGERS BENCH

#15-Austin Barnes, C #17-Kyle Farmer, INF #14-Enrique Hernandez, OF #26-Chase Utley, INF DODGERS BULLPEN

#75-Scott Alexander, LHP #52-Pedro Baez, RHP #54-Tony Cingrani, LHP #46-Josh Fields RHP #41-Daniel Hudson, RHP #74-Kenley Jansen, RHP #68-Ross Stripling, RHP #43-Pat Venditte, LHP

Never underestimate the effects of a World Series hangover. Maybe it’s the extra games. Maybe it’s the extra pressure. Maybe it’s the shorter offseason that takes away recovery time from the players. For whatever reason, teams that go to the World Series often look like a completely different squad the following year. And by different I mean fatigued and injured. It’s happening to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Coming off a gut-wrenching, seven-game defeat to Houston to end 2017, Los Angeles has been a shell of its former self. The team’s 16-25 start was its worst in 60 years. Injuries were certainly a part of it. A broken wrist knocked out third baseman Justin Turner for two months. Shortstop

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

THE STARTING LINEUP No. #3 #31 #10 #31 #27 #35 #11 #66

Player Chris Taylor Joc Pederson Justin Turner Yasmani Grandal Matt Kemp Cody Bellinger Logan Forsythe Yasiel Puig

THE ROTATION No. #22 #18 #99 #44 #57

Pitcher Clayton Kershaw Kenta Maeda Hyun-Jin Ryu Rich Hill Alex Wood

PAGE 32

Corey Seager lasted a month before undergoing Tommy John surgery on an elbow that has bothered him for years. Even Clayton Kershaw landed on the 10-day disabled list. But it isn’t just injuries. The Dodgers have lacked a spark this season. It happened to an 81-81 Kansas City squad in 2016 after winning it all. The defending champion Cubs won 11 fewer games last year and were dispatched by the Dodgers in a lopsided NLCS. Now it’s the Dodgers turn to struggle. They certainly have the talent to get things back on track—and the addition of Manny Machado wouldn’t hurt—but don’t be surprised if the World Series hangover claims another victim. - by Steven Cline

Salary $575,000 $2,600,000 $12,000,000 $7,900,000 $21,500,000 $585,000 $9,000,000 $9,214,285

Key Stat Caught stealing 3 of first 5 attempts this season 17 Ks, 17 Ws in first 100 ABs of year Tied career-high w/5 RBI 5/17/18 @ MIA .516 SLG through 38 games; .469 career high .318 BA through 41 games; hasn’t hit above .300 since ‘12 Set team rookie record for HRs w/39 last year .190 OBP in first 55 ABs this year Homered in 3 of 4 games May 13-17

Salary $34,000,000 $3,125,000 $7,833,333 $16,666,667 $6,000,000

Key Stat 23 HRs allowed in 2017 the most of his career 1.30 WHIP through first 8 starts; 1.15 career WHIP 3-0 w/2.12 ERA though first 6 starts this year Opponents hit .303 through first 5 starts 16 wins in 2017 set new single season career high

CHICAGO BASEBALL

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CUBS vs. MINNESOTA TWINS...June 29-30, July 1

One-Year Wonder?

TARGET FIELD

1 Twins Way Minneapolis, MN 55403 Capacity: 39,504 TWINS STAFF

Thad Levine, General Manager #4-Paul Molitor, Manager TWINS BENCH

#60-Jake Cave, OF #36-Robbie Grossman, OF #99-Logan Morrison, INF #40-Gregorio Petit, INF #22-Miguel Sano, INF #46-Brian Wilson, C TWINS BULLPEN

#32-Zach Duke, LHP #39-Trevor Hildenberger, RHP #45-Phil Hughes, RHP #57-Ryan Pressly, RHP #43-Addison Reed, RHP #56-Fernando Rodney, RHP #55-Taylor Rogers, LHP #54-Ervin Santana, RHP

The Minnesota Twins were 2017’s surprise team. Picked to finish near the bottom of the American League Central, they won 85 games, earned a wild card berth, and had a 3-0 lead over the Yankees in the one-game playoff before succumbing, 8-4. The Twins’ challenge is to sustain that success. So far, it’s been a struggle. Last year, Minnesota benefitted from a strong start. On May 20, 2017, they were in first place at 21-17. On that same date this year, they were 18-23. If the Twins are going to turn things around they’ll need to do more offensively. Through mid-May, they were 28th in runs

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

THE STARTING LINEUP No. #7 #2 #20 #5 #26 #25 #16 #23

Player Joe Mauer Brian Dozer Eddie Rosario Eduardo Escobar Max Kepler Byron Buxton Ehire Adrianza Mitch Garver

THE ROTATION No. #17 #12 #31 #44 #77

Pitcher Jose Berrios Jake Odorizzi Lance Lynn Kyle Gibson Fernando Romero

scored, ranking ahead of only the White Sox and Marlins, two teams with zero postseason aspirations. Potential stars Byron Buxton (.156 BA as of May 20) and Miguel Sano (.213 BA before going on the DL with a leg injury) would be a good place to start the improvement. Minnesota could also use more from offseason addition Lance Lynn. Brought in to bolster the rota-tion, Lynn was 1-4 with a 7.47 ERA in his first 7 starts. It will likely take more than 90 wins to earn a wild card berth with the American League far more competitive this year. The Twins have a lot of work to do if they are to reach that mark. - by Steven Cline

Salary $23,000,000 $9,000,000 $602,500 $4,850,000 $587,500 $580,000 $1,000,000 $547,500

Key Stat .308 career BA and .391 OBP in over 6,600 ABs Averaged 32 HRs over past 4 seasons w/MIN .544 SLG through first 160 ABs this year .534 SLG through first 150 ABs this year 19 HRs and 69 RBIs last season established new career bests Caught just 5 times in 50 career base stealing attempts .250 BA in day games, .176 at night in 2018 .200 BA vs. lefties, .273 against righties this year

Salary $570,000 $6,300,000 $12,000,000 $4,200,000 $545,000

Key Stat 50 Ks vs. 10 Ws in first 9 starts of the year 3.35 ERA through 9 starts equals his lowest ERA for a full season Averaged 14 wins per year in five seasons w/STL Held opponents to .220 BA in first 9 starts Earned 1st MLB win w/5.2 shutout innings vs. TOR 5/2/18

CUBS vs. DETROIT TIGERS...July 3-4

Fading Greatness

COMERICA PARK

2100 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201 Capacity: 41,782 TIGERS STAFF

Al Avila, EVP of Baseball Operations & General Manager #15-Ron Gardenhire, Manager TIGERS BENCH

#46-Jeimer Candelario, INF #55-John Hicks, Util. #33-Pete Kozma, INF #41-Victor Martinez, INF #22-Victor Reyes, OF TIGERS BULLPEN

#19-Louis Coleman, RHP #45-Buck Farmer, RHP #61-Shane Greene, RHP #36-Blaine Hardy, LHP #77-Joe Jimenez, RHP #57-Artie Lewicki, RHP #44-Daniel Norris, LHP #53-Warwick Saupold, RHP #68-Daniel Stumpf, LHP

In 1976, I talked my parents into taking me to a game at old Comiskey Park to see the White Sox play the Milwaukee Brewers. Hank Aaron had been traded to Milwaukee the previous season, and I desperately wanted to see the home run king in action. I remember peering into the visitor’s dugout from our outfield seats to get a glimpse of him. He wasn’t in the starting lineup, and as the game moved to the later innings I anxiously awaited his appearance as a pinch hitter. Aaron never got off the bench that day in what was his final season as a player, much to my disappointment. I’m reminded of that afternoon when I catch a glimpse of

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

THE STARTING LINEUP No. #12 #21 #9 #24 #28 #34 #1 #49

Player Leonys Martin Jacoby Jones Nick Castellanos Miguel Cabrera Niko Goodrum James McCann Jose Iglesias Dixon Machado

THE ROTATION No. #32 #50 #38 #48 #27

Pitcher Michael Fulmer Mike Fiers Francisco Liriano Matthew Boyd Jordan Zimmerman

PAGE 34

the Detroit Tigers and Miguel Cabrera. While Cabrera, 35, isn’t at the end of his career—he has five years left on a $248 million contract—he is no longer the most feared right-handed hitter in the game. Injuries and age have taken their toll. The entire Tigers organization is fading, well past its peak. A team that went to the 2012 World Se-ries and qualified for the postseason four straight seasons from 2011-14 has been gutted. Only Cabrera remains from that World Series team of Prince Fielder, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Rick Porcello. Like Aaron that day in 1976, the Tigers’ best days are only a memory. - by Steven Cline

Salary $1,750,000 $549,400 $6,050,000 $30,000,000 $553,600 $2,380,000 $6,280,000 $553,600

Key Stat .218 BA at home, .316 on the road this season .328 BA at home, .145 on the road in 2018 Established career highs with 26 HRs and 101 RBIs in ‘17 .317 career BA in over 2,250 games Hit 1st MLB HR 4/5/18 @CWS 13 HRs and 49 RBIs in ’17 were both single season highs 7 SBs last year; 7 SBs through 42 games this year .288 BA in day games, .150 at night this season

Salary $575,200 $6,000,000 $4,000,000 $562,000 $24,000,000

Key Stat 22-22 w/3.57 ERA in 2+ seasons w/DET Made 150th appearance of his career 5/25/18 vs. CWS Opponents batting .218 through 8 starts; best mark since ‘14 VERY distant relative of Hall-of-Famer Bob Feller 19-20 in 2+ seasons w/DET; 70-50 w/WAS CHICAGO BASEBALL

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CUBS vs. CINCINNATI REDS...July 6-8

Red-Faced

GREAT AMERICAN BALL PARK

100 Joe Nuxhall Way Cincinnati, OH 45202 Capacity: 42,076 REDS STAFF

Walt Jocketty, President/GM #35-Jim Riggleman, Manager REDS BENCH

#2-Alex Blandino, INF #17-Tony Cruz, C #23-Adam Duvall, OF #12-Rosell Herrera, Util. REDS BULLPEN

#40-Austin Brice, RHP #63-Dylan Floro, RHP #50-Amir Garrett, LHP #37-David Hernandez, RHP #48-Jared Hughes, RHP #26-Raisel Iglesias, RHP #21-Michael Lorenzen, RHP #53-Wandy Peralta, LHP #62-Jackson Stephens, RHP

It didn’t take long for the season’s first managerial firing to take place as a 3-15 start cost Cincinnati Reds skipper Bryan Price his job. It’s hard to argue that Price didn’t deserve the ax. The Reds had the worst record in baseball at the time, never posted a winning record in Price’s four-plus seasons at the helm and went 279-387 with him calling the shots in the dugout. There’s the rub. While Price made the decisions on the field, it was decisions made off of it that doomed the team. Since Price became manager, Cincinnati has been in full rebuild mode, trading Jay Bruce, Aroldis Chapman Johnny Cueto, Todd Frazier and Brandon Phillips, among others, in an effort

THE STARTING LINEUP

THE ROTATION

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

No. #33 #9 #19 #4 #7 #43 #16 #6

No. #32 #34 #30 #58 #47

Player Jesse Winker Jose Peraza Joey Votto Scooter Gennett Eugenio Suarez Scott Schebler Tucker Barnhart Billy Hamilton

Pitcher Matt Harvey Homer Bailey Tyler Mahle Luis Castillo Sal Romano

to stockpile young talent and high draft picks. So where are all of Cincinnati’s stars of the future? Who are the young players that will lead this storied franchise back to relevance? None of the team’s promising pitchers has established himself. Position players like Adam Duvall, Scott Schebler and Eugenio Suarez are good but not great. Joey Votto will be 35 in September. This is a bad team with little hope of making a rapid improvement. The Reds may fare a bit better with ex-Cubs manager Jim Riggleman at the helm, but the real problem begins and ends with the Cincinnati front office. - by Steven Cline

Salary $545,000 $540,000 $22,000,000 $2,525,000 $595,000 $540,000 $575,000 $2,625,000

Key Stat .298 BA in 121 ABs last year as a rookie Only drew 4 BBs in first 175 ABs of the year Drew the 1,000th walk of his career 4/15/18 vs. STL .327 BA through 42 games; career .284 hitter .594 SLG through first 100 ABs; career season high .461 30 HRs last season but just 67 RBIs 5-0 in stolen base attempts 2016-2017; CS in first attempt this year Nabbed 250th SB of career 5/13/18 @ LAD

Salary $4,325,000 $19,000,000 $545,000 $555,000 $545,000

Key Stat 3.38 ERA in first two starts w/CIN; 7.00 w/NYM before trade 67-68 mark w/4.47 ERA in 201 career starts 10 HRs allowed in 48.0 IP to start season 10 HRs allowed in 46.0 IP to start season Road ERA 7.41; home ERA 3.25 in 2018

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