Chicago Baseball 2017 preview

DE R BA OZ TE NE M R-O INSIDE: PREDICTIONS • ROSTER OVERVIEWS • SCHEDULES • SEASON HIGHLIGHTS LB S ’s TR TO O P WS TE K AMI S

KRIS BRYANT

JON LESTER

JOSÉ ABREU

Repeat?

Rebuild!

HUB ARKUSH

Winning has just begun on the North Side PG 3

BRUCE MILES What can Cubs do for an encore? PG 4

SCOT GREGOR

Patience is the key for Sox GM Rick Hahn PG 18

MIKE IMREM

BRUCE MILES

SCOT GREGOR

JON STYF

KYLE NABORS

ERIC OLSON

HUB ARKUSH

CUBS RECORD CUBS RECORD 91-71, 1st place in NL Central 125-37, first place in NL Central WHITE SOX RECORD WHITE SOX RECORD 68-94, 5th place in AL Central 70-92, 5th place in AL Central NL CENTRAL NL CENTRAL CUBS CUBS Pirates Cardinals Cardinals Pirates Reds Brewers Brewers Reds WILD-CARD PLAYOFF WILD-CARD PLAYOFF Giants over Nationals Giants over Nationals DIVISION SERIES DIVISION SERIES Dodgers over Giants Giants over Cubs Cubs over Mets Mets over Dodgers NLCS NLCS Dodgers over Cubs Mets over Giants AL CENTRAL AL CENTRAL Indians Indians Royals Royals Tigers Tigers Twins Twins WHITE SOX WHITE SOX WILD-CARD PLAYOFF WILD-CARD PLAYOFF Red Sox over Mariners Royals over Mariners DIVISION SERIES DIVISION SERIES Red Sox over Blue Jays Red Sox over Royals Indians over Astros Astros over Indians ALCS ALCS Red Sox over Indians Astros over Red Sox WORLD SERIES WORLD SERIES Dodgers over Red Sox Astros over Mets

CUBS RECORD CUBS RECORD CUBS RECORD CUBS RECORD CUBS RECORD CUBS RECORD 95-67, first place in NL Central 100-62, 1st place in NL Central 99-63, 1st place in NL Central 101-61, 1st place in NL Central 98-64, 1st place in NL Central 98-64, 1st place in NL Central WHITE SOX RECORD WHITE SOX RECORD WHITE SOX RECORD WHITE SOX RECORD WHITE SOX RECORD WHITE SOX RECORD 70-92, 4th place in AL Central 70-92, 4th place in AL Central 70-92, 4th place in AL Central 68-94, 4th place in AL Central 76-86, 3rd place in AL Central 76-86, 4th place in AL Central NL CENTRAL NL CENTRAL NL CENTRAL NL CENTRAL NL CENTRAL NL CENTRAL CUBS CUBS CUBS CUBS CUBS CUBS Cardinals Cardinals Cardinals Cardinals Cardinals Pirates Pirates Pirates Pirates Pirates Pirates Cardinals Brewers Brewers Reds Brewers Reds Brewers Reds Reds Brewers Reds Brewers Reds WILD-CARD PLAYOFF WILD-CARD PLAYOFF WILD-CARD PLAYOFF WILD-CARD PLAYOFF WILD-CARD PLAYOFF WILD-CARD PLAYOFF Giants over Mets Giants over Mets Giants over Cardinals Cardinals over Rockies Cardinals over Diamondbacks Pirates over Mets DIVISION SERIES DIVISION SERIES DIVISION SERIES DIVISION SERIES DIVISION SERIES DIVISION SERIES Cubs over Giants Cubs over Giants Nationals over Giants Cubs over Cardinals Nationals over Dodgers Cubs over Dodgers Nationals over Dodgers Dodgers over Nationals Cubs over Dodgers Nationals over Dodgers Cubs over Cardinals Nationals over Pirates NLCS NLCS NLCS NLCS NLCS NLCS Cubs over Nationals Cubs over Dodgers Cubs over Nationals Cubs over Nationals Nationals over Cubs Cubs over Nationals AL CENTRAL AL CENTRAL AL CENTRAL AL CENTRAL AL CENTRAL AL CENTRAL Indians Indians Indians Indians Indians Indians Tigers Tigers Tigers Tigers Tigers Tigers WHITE SOX Royals Royals Royals Royals Royals WHITE SOX WHITE SOX WHITE SOX WHITE SOX Royals WHITE SOX Twins Twins Twins Twins Twins Twins WILD-CARD PLAYOFF WILD-CARD PLAYOFF WILD-CARD PLAYOFF WILD-CARD PLAYOFF WILD-CARD PLAYOFF WILD-CARD PLAYOFF Tigers over Rangers Rangers over Yankees Tigers over Blue Jays Rangers over Blue Jays Mariners over Blue Jays Tigers over Yankees DIVISION SERIES DIVISION SERIES DIVISION SERIES DIVISION SERIES DIVISION SERIES DIVISION SERIES Red Sox over Rangers Red Sox over Rangers Red Sox over Astros Red Sox over Rangers Red Sox over Mariners Indians over Astros Indians over Tigers Indians over Astros Indians over Tigers Astros over Indians Astros over Indians Red Sox over Tigers ALCS ALCS ALCS ALCS ALCS ALCS Red Sox over Indians Red Sox over Indians Red Sox over Indians Astros over Red Sox Red Sox over Astros Red Sox over Indians WORLD SERIES WORLD SERIES WORLD SERIES WORLD SERIES WORLD SERIES WORLD SERIES Cubs over Red Sox Cubs over Red Sox Cubs over Red Sox Cubs over Astros Nationals over Red Sox Cubs over Red Sox

Rozner: On paper, the Cubs are still the best team, but history says they won’t repeat.

Of course, the Cubs aren’t scared of history anymore and it’s probably foolish to pick against them.

Miles: The Cubs and Red Sox meet at Fenway for three in April. It figures to be the early matchup of the year and a Fall Classic preview.

Imrem: Cubs fail to repeat when injuries to key players decimate them leading up to the playoffs; more trades of key players decimate Sox during season.

Gregor: No team has won consecutive World Series since 1998-2000, when the Yankees rolled to three straight titles. That changes this year – the Cubs are loaded.

Styf: Yeah, things can go wrong. Yeah, it’s the Cubs.

Yeah, teams just don’t repeat.

All that being said, the Cubs have the magic in them to make it happen.

Nabors: It might be tough to repeat, but that rule goes out the window when the defending champ is still getting better. The Cubs are the most talented team in the league.

Olson: The Cubs look like the best team on paper, but in the playoffs, sometimes the ball bounces the other way.

Arkush: This is the Series everybody wants to see and hard as it may be to repeat, the Cubs are still the most talented team in baseball.

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The winning has just begun

D

id it really happen? Are the Chicago Cubs really the defending World Series champions?

Something definitely happened. I know because, while on assignment in Phoenix, Ariz. covering the NFL owners meetings, it seems everybody is a Cubs fan.

From the moment I landed in the valley of the sun, it has been impossible to walk 100 feet without seeing one if not multiple Cubs jerseys, T-shirts and/or hats on everyone from toddlers to teenagers to hipsters to soccer moms to grandmas and grandpas, none named Rossi.

It can’t be there’s nothing but Chicagoans in Arizona because I haven’t seen a Sox, Bears, Hawks or Bulls logo yet. So it must be true, the Cubs are the Champs and the world is their oyster.

Where do we go from here?

Will being a Cubs fan ever be the same again?

Are cows jumping over the moon?

Let’s start with this: it takes more than talent to win championships, but the Cubs – who were clearly the most talented team in baseball last

which dropped to 20th in Baseball America’s rankings last year after ranking season – are certain to be fourth in 2014 and first in even more talented this 2015 has now climbed back year and likely more so to 16th again. again next season too.

If you’re not impressed How do I know? by 16th, consider RizConsider that among zo, Hendricks, Bryant, Kris Bryant, Anthony RizSchwarber, Contreras, zo, Jason Heyward, AddiHUB ARKUSH EXECUTIVE EDITOR Baez and Russell are 27, 27, son Russell, Kyle Schwar@Hub_Arkush 25, 24, 24, 24 and 23 years ber, Javier Baez, Willson Contreras, Albert Almora, old, respectively.

Jr., Ben Zobrist, Kyle Hendricks, Jon Winning back-to-back titles is inLester and Jake Arrieta who make up credibly hard, as the last MLB team the nucleus of the club, only Zobrist, to turn the trick was the Yankees who Lester and Arrieta have reached their won three straight World Series from primes and they are still in them.

1998-2000.

Among the rest of that uber-talentAmong the four major U.S. sports, ed group, only Rizzo and Heyward are only the NHL is a tougher place to reclose to their primes and that entire peat, with the Detroit Red Wings the cast is going to get much, much better. last team to do it in 1997 and 1998.

It is also not only possible but But let’s take a lesson from the seems likely that Bryant, Rizzo, RusBlackhawks, who ended a 49-year sell, Schwarber, Baez and Contreras Stanley Cup drought in 2010. have the talent to be MVP candidates That team featured Jonathan for the next 10 years and remarkably Toews (22 years old at the time), Patthere are still more like them in the rick Kane (21), Duncan Keith (26), system.

Brent Seabrook (25), Niklas HjalOutfielder Eloy Jiminez, infielder marsson (23) and Corey Crawford (25) Ian Happ, Almora and right-handed (Crawford was not the starting goalpitcher Dylan Cease are all current ie in ’10) and all they did was go to top 100 prospects, according to Basethe Conference Finals in three of the next five seasons, win two more Cups ball America. The entire system,

and they are threatening another run right now.

Short of a natural disaster or incredibly poor health over an awfully long period of time, the Cubs are going to be contenders for the next five or six seasons at least, and right now they have to be the favorites again to win the World Series this year.

Tell me, Cubs fans, can we stand it?

After spending 108 years learning how to lose, are we ready to win so much even Donald Trump won’t believe it?

The answer, of course, is simple.

Winning can cure all and the Cubs are in absolutely no danger of becoming the oft-reviled Yankees or Patriots, disliked for no other reason than they won so much, at least not yet.

While shaking the lovable losers image the club bore so long is a huge part of what has made the Cubs the biggest thing in sports right now, another huge piece is all sports fans’ fascination with just how good this team might eventually be.

These Cubs arrows are still pointing almost straight up and that is guaranteed to keep them in the headlines and above the fold for some time to come.

They’ve got a lot more winning to do before there is any danger of Cubs mania getting old, or any of us loving them any less.

AP PHOTO / NAM Y. HUH

Fans fill Grant Park after the Cubs won their first championship in 108 years

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Cubs in no danger of losing us soon

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Why the Cubs will repeat (or fail to repeat) as World Series champions

JOHN STARKS/JSTARKS@DAILYHERALD.COM

The Chicago Cubs celebrate their win during Game 7 of baseball’s World Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland John Starks - jstarks@dailyherald.com

L

@BruceMiles2112

ife became complete for many Chicago Cubs fans in November, when the team won its first World Series since 1908.

Now the Cubs and their fans want to get greedy.

Can you say repeat?

The Cubs are the consensus favorite to win the National League Central for a second straight season, and many prognosticators believe they’ll win the World Series again.

We’re a long way from that, but if any team in recent years is poised to repeat, it’s the Cubs.

Major League Baseball, unlike other sports – see the NHL and the Chicago Blackhawks – does not have a salary cap, and the Cubs have flexibility to spend, as well as a deep farm system from which to draw in case of injury.

“Every year is so different,” said veteran pitcher Jon Lester, who won two world championships with the Red Sox before last year’s title with the Cubs. “I don’t think you can put a blueprint out there and say, ‘Hey, this is how you repeat. I think we just have to prepare and go out and play like we did last year.

“Obviously that’s hard to do because we did do a lot of things. Defensively we set records. Offensively we were pretty amazing. And we had the best pitching staff in the league last year,” Lester said.

“I hope everybody has the same year that they did last year. That would be really, really awesome, but that’s not baseball. There are going to be some ebbs and flows.”

Let’s take a look at the reasons the Cubs will repeat – and won’t repeat – as world champions.

HERE IS WHY IT WILL HAPPEN Sheer talent

The Cubs are stacked from 1-9 in the lineup and around the diamond.

The key losses from last year’s team are center fielder Dexter Fowler and catcher David Ross.

Fowler went to the hated St. Louis Cardinals, and Ross retired. It doesn’t seem to matter. Fowler should help the Cardinals but not enough for his new team to catch the Cubs. Jon Jay

BRUCE MILES

DAILY HERALD

no signs of feeling “the pressure.”

Lester believes that can be an advantage moving ahead.

“With our young guys, I think they’re cocky enough and naive enough at the same time to just go out and play again and not worry about anything,” he said. “You definitely see everybody’s got a little pep in their steps, coming into spring training being champs and all that stuff.

That’s good to see. They deserve that.

“At the same time, when it’s time to work, you can see they kind of flip that switch and go back to work. I think we’ve got a lot of positives on our side.”

The Maddon factor

John Starks - jstarks@dailyherald.com

The Commissioner’s Trophy, the prize for winning the World Series, is held by Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross at a Cubs rally in Grant Park.

(a former Cardinal) and youngster Albert Almora Jr. will replace Fowler in center field, and slugger Kyle Schwarber will take Fowler’s role as the leadoff hitter.

Schwarber also is the third catcher behind rising star Willson Contreras and veteran Miguel Montero.

Otherwise, all-stars and/or Gold Glovers and Silver Sluggers dot the rest of the diamond, from Anthony Rizzo to Kris Bryant to Addison Rus-

sell to Jason Heyward.

And their starting-pitching rotation also goes six deep.

Confidence and naiveté One striking thing about this team, going back to the 2015 club that arrived in the playoffs “a year ahead of schedule,” is how the young players have handled the spotlight.

The 2015 and 2016 teams weren’t awed by the media attention and gave

Manager Joe Maddon was roasted last fall – and into the winter – over his managing in the postseason, particularly in Game 7 of the World Series.

He’s also a big reason they made the 2015 playoffs and got to the promised land in 2016.

Baseball has a long season, and Maddon is good at resting his players, whether it’s with canceling batting practice for several days at a time or giving his regulars a day off now and then.

Interestingly, Maddon makes little distinction between veterans and youngsters when it comes to rest. He believes young players become just as mentally and physically fatigued as older players.

Maddon’s daily lineups are based on matchups, with an eye toward alternating between left- and righthanded hitters. He’s not afraid to be counterintuitive, such as batting Schwarber first or his pitcher eighth.

Even though his pitchers may not like it, Maddon again is expected to drop a sixth starter into the rotation this season to help preserve his big guns for the fall.

And, oh yes, the zoo animals and American Legion days and road-trip dress-ups all keep things light.

HERE ARE SOME REASONS WHY THE CUBS WON’T REPEAT: Simple mathematics

With five teams making the playoffs in each league, the numbers work against the best team advanc(Continued on Page 6)

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

By

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

(Continued from Page 5) ing to the World Series. From 1903-68, the top teams in each league squared off in the World Series. There were no divisional playoffs, no league championship series, no wild cards.

As Cubs president Theo Epstein put it this spring, the Cubs faced their “mortality” in each of the three playoff series they played in 2016. Wild-card teams go through four rounds to win a World Series.

So a hot streak or a cold streak in October/November, with a short series, can send the league’s top team packing in a hurry.

Beginning in 1991 and excluding the strike-shortened 1994 season, the Atlanta Braves won 14 straight division titles but captured only one World Series title during that span.

The X-factor No team wants to talk about injuries, but each tries to prepare for them by having depth with their rotation, bullpen and position players.

For the past two seasons, the starting rotation was remarkably healthy.

Lester worked through shoulder fatigue two years ago in spring training but was able to start the season. Last year, John Lackey was on the disabled list from mid-August through early

September with shoulder strain, but that’s as serious as it got.

Nothing will derail a good team’s season faster than injuries, especially to key starting pitchers. With pitchers, especially veterans, there are no guarantees about health despite the good physical conditions Cubs pitchers keep themselves in.

The long season Although this team seems immune to many pressures of the pennant race, the long season takes a toll on players, Lester said, as does the stress from multiple playoff seasons.

“You’re asking guys to do stuff they’re normally not used to (in the playoffs) … starting pitchers coming out of the bullpen, you’re pitching on short rest, you’re doing different things,” Lester said. “That’s what makes the Yankees so special.

They were able to do it year in and year out.

“Teams now, I think, are better all across the board. I think it makes it harder that way. It’s a hard thing to win one, let alone to do it two in a row. We’re going to try real hard. All we can do is play hard and do little things like we do in spring training and get better and see what happens through the season.”

AP PHOTO/NAM Y. HUH

Part of the Joe Maddon factor is his resting of veterans, as well as the younger players, and he has also cancelled batting practice for several days at a time.

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CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Davis, Jay among new faces on the North Side

By ARTHUR SHAW MEDIA

I

ARKUSH

@ArthurArkush

t’s arguably baseball’s best roster, loaded with top pitching and positional talent, versatility and the necessary depth to withstand another 175-plus game marathon.

Nonetheless, an offseason that began with a parade ended with a few new voids for the Cubs, highlighted by the departures of team catalyst and centerfielder Dexter Fowler, and intimidating, flame-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman.

With Fowler going to St. Louis, who’ll make the Cubs go? They signed ex-Cardinal Jon Jay, 31, who brings a left-handed bat and .737 career OPS to a platoon with Albert Almora, the Cubs’ 2012 first-rounder who flashed a special glove and outfield range during 56 games as a rookie last season.

The Cubs won’t expect this tandem to play Fowler’s invaluable tone-setting role; they’ll settle for a dependable centerfield presence,

Wade Davis

Daniel White - Daily Herald

Jon Jay

consistent at-bats and some occasional pop, oftentimes likely from the top of the lineup.

Similarly, Joe Maddon surely understands that new closer Wade Davis, acquired from Kansas City in a Jorge Soler swap, may not strike fear into the hearts of opposing hitters like the towering Chapman did with his high-voltage velocity. Yet he’s counting on Davis, who compiled 47 saves and a 1.18 ERA over the past three seasons, avoiding the arm trouble that limited him to 45 appearances in 2016, down from averaging 70 between 2014-15.

The other big pitching alteration is at the back of the rotation, where Jason Hammel followed Soler to

AP PHOTOS

Brett Anderson

AP PHOTOS

Kansas City after eating more than 166 innings, and Brett Anderson is tentatively inserted. The 29-year-old southpaw, who signed a one-year deal after missing 2016 following back surgery, earned Hammel’s vacated rotation post over Mike Montgomery, a candidate to be the Cubs’ Swiss Army knife that cuts back and forth from sixth starter to key bullpen lefty.

In 2015, Anderson had perhaps his best season, pitching a Hammel-like 180-plus innings with a 3.69 ERA for the Dodgers.

No Cub should be more familiar by opening day with the new arms than Willson Contreras, who, following the retirement of David Ross,

will likely be asked to catch 130-140 games — up considerably from his 76 regular-season rookie appearances.

Contreras energized the lineup as a rookie, belting 12 home runs and providing a strong and accurate arm that gunned down 16 on the base paths, including four after overly ambitious leadoffs. He’ll have to develop a strong rapport with Jon Lester, the ace who requires a bit of extra attention he’ll no longer get from Ross.

One other changeup worth monitoring is Maddon’s juggling act at second base with World Series MVP Ben Zobrist and dazzling defender Javy Baez. Maddon wants catcher-turned-leftfielder Kyle Schwarber’s bat in the lineup daily, even if it means taking some defensive lumps as he learns a new position, likely relegating either Zobrist or Baez to the pine.

Will Maddon sacrifice Zobrist’s clutch bat for Baez’s unparalleled glove work? Would Baez’s growth as a hitter stall if he’s platooning, or reserved for late-inning defensive work?

In the case of the 2017 Cubs, change can be a good thing.

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Mike Montgomery #38

Pedro Strop #46

AGE: 33 | HT: 6-4 | WT: 240 | THW: L | BAT: L Lester might be entering his age-33 season, but the NL Cy Young runnerup is coming off career bests in ERA (2.44) and WHIP (1.016). It’s likely that Lester comes somewhat back down to earth without David Ross’ pitch framing ability, but the veteran lefty has shown his durability with ninestraight seasons with at least 30 starts.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 32 32 | 19 5 0 | 202.2 | 197 2.44 1.02

STARTING PITCHER AGE: 38 | HT: 6-6 | WT: 235 | THW: R | BAT: R

STARTING PITCHER AGE: 31 | HT: 6-4 | WT: 225 | THW: R | BAT: R

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 31 | HT: 6-1 | WT: 220 | THW: R | BAT: R

Now in his late 30s, Lackey continues to be a dependable innings eater in the middle of the team’s rotation. Since missing the 2012 season following Tommy John surgery, the 38-year-old has averaged 198 innings, a particularly valuable trait after the Cubs played into November last season.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 29 29 | 11 8 0 | 188.1 | 80 3.35 1.06

Manager Joe Maddon spent spring training talking up Montgomery as a starter, but the lefty is likely to open the season in the bullpen. He’s better suited for a relief role than Brett Anderson and could fill the role Travis Wood occupied for much of last season.

Still, Montgomery will be first in line for spot starts.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 49 7 | 4 5 0 | 100.0 | 92 2.52 1.17

People tend to first think of Jake Arrieta when discussing the Cubs’ 2013 trade of Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger to Baltimore, but the Orioles also sent back Strop in the deal. Strop has settled into a key setup role during his time in Chicago with 195 appearances since the beginning of the 2014 season.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 54 0 | 2 2 0 | 47.1 | 60 2.86 0.89

Kyle Hendricks #28

Jake Arrieta #49

Wade Davis #71

Carl Edwards Jr. #6

STARTING PITCHER

STARTING PITCHER AGE: 27 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 190 | THW: R | BAT: R

STARTING PITCHER AGE: 31 | HT: 6-4 | WT: 225 | THW: R | BAT: R

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 31 | HT: 6-5 | WT: 225 | THW: R | BAT: R

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 25 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 170 | THW: R | BAT: R

Even with the Cubs raving about Hendricks’ progression heading into last season, it was tough to imagine the heights the right-hander would reach in 2016. The major’s defending ERA leader possesses pinpoint accuracy and terrific secondary pitches that allow him to shut down any lineup.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 31 30 | 16 8 0 | 190.0 | 170 2.13 0.98

OK, it was unfair to expect Arrieta to live up to his historic 2015 Cy Young campaign. With that being said, his increased walk rate is a reason for concern and his slider wasn’t nearly as effective in 2016. Fatigue could be a concern, but Arrieta isn’t likely to take it easy with free agency looming.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 31 31 | 18 8 0 | 197.1 | 190 3.10 1.08

The Cubs didn’t want to hand $100 million to Aroldis Chapman, so they instead sent outfielder Jorge Soler to Kansas City in exchange for a new closer, Davis. The righty has been lights out since 2014 with 11.5 strikeouts per 9 innings. A pair of forearm injuries did slow Davis down last summer.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 45 0 | 2 1 27 | 43.1 | 47 1.87 1.13

Wade Davis takes over as closer, but Edwards is quite likely the team’s long-term solution if Davis leaves via free agency after 2017. One of the Cubs’ top pitching prospects, Edwards flashed his potential last year with 52 strikeouts in 36 innings and should see plenty of late-inning work this season.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 36 0 | 0 1 2 | 36.0 | 52 3.75 0.81

Kyle Hendricks AP PHOTOS

Brett Anderson #37

Rob Zastryzny #29

Miguel Montero #47

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 29 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 230 | THW: R | BAT: R

STARTING/RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 29 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 230 | THW: L | BAT: L

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 27 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 205 | THW: L | BAT: R

CATCHER AGE: 33 | HT: 5-11 | WT: 210 | THW: L | BAT: R

Rondon saved 77 games for the Cubs from 2014 until the team acquired Aroldis Chapman last July. General manager Theo Epstein has said Rondon didn’t do anything to lose the job, but he’s unlikely to return to his old role after Wade Davis joined the club this offseason. Despite pitching well, Rondon will find himself in middle relief.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS G P GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 54 0 | 2 3 18 | 51.0 | 58 3.53 0.98

Anderson is likely to open the season as the club’s fifth starter. The 29-year-old certainly possesses the talent to be a quality major league starter, but injuries have been an issue throughout his career. The lefty has only surpassed 20 starts twice in eight seasons and was limited to just three starts last season with the Dodgers.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 4 3 | 1 2 0 | 11.3 | 5 11.91 2.56

It’s far from certain that Zastryzny will head north to start the season with the big-league team; however, the Cubs could view him as a left-handed specialist. Zastryzny saw limited time in the majors last season after being promoted in August. He limited lefthanded batters to a .138 average in eight appearances.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 8 1 | 1 0 0 | 16.0 | 17 1.13 1.06

How much does the veteran catcher have left in the tank? The 33-year-old turned in a career-low .216 batting average in 2016 and watched his playing time decline down the stretch.

His declining defense is also a concern, but the Cubs shouldn’t lean heavily on Montero after Willson Contreras’ emergence last year.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 86 241 | 33 8 33 | 1 | .216 .327 .357

Koji Uehara #19

Willson Contreras #40

Javier Baez #9

Justin Grimm #52

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 28 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 210 | THW: R | BAT: R

Grimm appeared to have secured a spot in the bullpen after a terrific 2015 campaign. Then came a rough start to 2016, when he was twice demoted to the minor leagues. Grimm still managed 68 appearances during the regular season, but he needed a terrific spring to start 2017 in the majors after posting a 4.10 ERA last year.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS G P GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 68 0 | 2 1 0 | 52.2 | 65 4.10 1.33

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 32 | HT: 6-2 | WT: 195 | THW: R | BAT: R

CATCHER AGE: 24 | HT: 6-1 | WT: 210 | THW: R | BAT: R

INFIELD AGE: 24 | HT: 6-0 | WT: 190 | THW: R | BAT: R

Despite turning 42 years old in April, Uehara told reporters this spring that he feels capable of pitching for two more seasons. Injuries are becoming a concern with the 2013 American League Championship Series MVP, but Uehara has shown he’s still effective when healthy. The right-hander has struck out 110 in 87 innings over the past two seasons.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 50 0 | 2 3 7 | 47.0 | 63 3.45 0.96

In his rookie season with the Cubs, Contreras posted impressive numbers after being called up to the big leagues in June. The 24-year-old catcher slugged 12 homers and drove in 35 runs in just 252 at-bats. It’s hard to gauge if he can keep up the power numbers after connecting for only 39 home runs in nearly 1,900 at-bats in the minors.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 76 252 | 33 12 35 | 2 | .282 .357 .488

Last year’s National League Championship Series MVP has already picked up where he left off with highlight-reel plays this spring in the World Baseball Classic. Baez is still a developing player at 24 years old. He’ll make his share of mistakes and will split time with Ben Zobrist at second base, but few players possess Baez’s upside.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 142 421 | 50 14 59 | 12 | .273 .314 .423

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CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Hector Rondon #56

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Addison Russell #27

Kris Bryant #17 THIRD BASE

AGE: 25 | HT: 6-5 | WT: 230 | THW: R | BAT: R After winning NL Rookie of the Year and MVP in consecutive seasons to start his career, can Bryant become even better? It sure looks that way. He saw significant jumps in his contact rate, batting average and on-base percentage in his second season. Those rates are likely to continue, and he is focused on getting better defensively.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 155 603 | 121 39 102 | 8 | .292 .385 .554

Anthony Rizzo #44

Kyle Schwarber #12

Jason Heyward #22

SHORTSTOP AGE: 27 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 205 | THW: L | BAT: R

LEFT FIELD/CATCHER AGE: 35 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 210 | THW: R | BAT: S

RIGHT FIELD AGE: 27 | HT: 6-5 | WT: 240 | THW: L | BAT: L

Joe Maddon showed how much he believes in Russell by moving the young shortstop into the No. 5 spot in the lineup last season. Russell responded with 21 home runs and 95 RBIs. He’s expected to remain in the heart of the lineup and could see time in the cleanup spot when Ben Zobrist bats leadoff.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 151 52 | 67 21 95 | 5 | .238 .321 .417

The Cubs will take every precaution with Schwarber after he suffered a gruesome knee injury last April, but it will be tough to keep his bat out of the lineup. The 24-year-old reminded everyone during the World Series how special of a weapon he is with seven hits and three walks in 20 plate appearances.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 2 4 | 0 0 0 | 0 | .000 .000 .000

It’s fair to label Heyward’s 2016 performance at the plate as a disaster.

While he continued to perform well in the outfield, his offense plummeted thanks in large part to a career-worst contact rate. Heyward spent the offseason rebuilding his swing, but early reports out of spring training haven’t been encouraging.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 142 530 | 61 7 49 | 11 | .230 .306 .325

Ben Zobrist #18

Jon Jay #30

Albert Almora #5

FIRST BASE AGE: 27 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 240 | THW: L | BAT: L

SECOND BASE/THIRD BASE/OUTFIELD AGE: 35 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 210 | THW: R | BAT: S

CENTER FIELD AGE: 32 | HT: 5-11 | WT: 195 | THW: L | BAT: L

CENTER FIELD AGE: 22 | HT: 6-2 | WT: 190 | THW: R | BAT: R

Remember when people worried Rizzo would never hit left-handed pitching? That now seems silly considering how well-rounded the Cubs’ first baseman has become.

Over the past three seasons, Rizzo has slugged 32, 31 and 32 homers and posted on-base percentages of .386, .387 and .385. Few players are as consistent as Rizzo.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 155 583 | 94 32 109 | 3 | .292 .385 .544

Some people were concerned when the Cubs signed the 35-year-old Zobrist to a four-year deal prior to the 2016 season. He rewarded the team’s faith by turning in a terrific regular season and went on to be named the MVP of the World Series. Zobrist’s versatility makes him a vital asset at the plate and on defense at several different positions.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 147 423 | 94 18 76 | 6 | .272 .358 .433

After showing flashes as a rookie, Albert Almora is the likely candidate to start in center field on opening night, but Jay is expected to platoon with Almora for much of the season.

Jay revitalized his career last year in San Diego, where he batted .291 in 347 at-bats. He should also provide the Cubs with a decent insurance policy if Almora struggles.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 90 347 | 49 2 26 | 2 | .291 .339 .389

Almora provided a glimpse of his potential with his short stint in the majors after being called up in June.

The 22-year-old outfielder displayed solid contact along with superior baserunning and defensive skills. The Cubs were confident enough in the youngster’s ability to allow Dexter Fowler to depart via free agency during the offseason.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 47 112 | 14 3 14 | 0 | .277 .308 .455

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Jose Quintana AP PHOTOS

STARTING PITCHER AGE: 28 | HT: 6-1 | WT: 220 | THW: L | BAT: R

STARTING PITCHER AGE: 30 | HT: 6-2 | WT: 215 | THW: L | BAT: S

It long felt like Quintana went underappreciated in baseball circles, but the left-hander finally earned his first all-star appearance in 2016.

It’s unclear how long Quintana will remain with the White Sox given the constant trade rumors, but he’s the undisputed ace of this staff with a 3.41 ERA in 151 career starts.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 32 32 | 13 12 0 | 208.0 | 181 3.20 1.16

The White Sox gambled that a change in scenery would reinvigorate Shields when they traded for him last season.

It didn’t pay off. The righty’s strikeout rate continued to tumble while his ERA and WHIP kept climbing. The White Sox can only hope that he pitches well enough early to entice a pitchingstarved team to make the same mistake.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 33 33 | 6 19 0 | 181.2 | 135 5.85 1.60

Holland was enjoying a blossoming career in 2013, when he turned in a 3.42 ERA in 33 starts with the Rangers.

Things haven’t gone well since, with injuries limiting the 30-year-old to 35 total starts over the past three seasons.

The White Sox signed Holland to a oneyear deal in the offseason as he tries to prove he’s healthy enough to pitch.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 22 20 | 7 9 0 | 107.1 | 67 4.95 1.41

Carlos Rodon #55

Miguel Gonzalez #58

David Robertson #30

STARTING PITCHER AGE: 24 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 235 | THW: L | BAT: L

STARTING PITCHER AGE: 32 | HT: 6-1 | WT: 170 | THW: R | BAT: R

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 31 | HT: 5-11 | WT: 195 | THW: R | BAT: R

Control remained an issue for Rodon in his second major league season.

The left-hander continued to display immense upside, however, with a plus fastball and a wipeout slider that led to 168 strikeouts in 165 innings. At just 24 years old, Rodon is being counted on to develop into a frontline starter.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 28 28 | 9 10 0 | 165.0 | 168 4.04 1.39

Gonzalez suffered through some rough spots early after coming over from Baltimore last season. The 28-yearold right-hander appeared to settle in as the season progressed and finished with a 3.73 ERA in 23 starts. He should eat innings until the White Sox deem their youngsters are ready for the majors.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 24 23 | 5 8 0 | 135.0 | 95 3.73 1.24

Trade rumors continue to swirl around Robertson, who is set to enter the third year of a four-year deal with the White Sox. The veteran closer will likely be a hot commodity at July’s trade deadline with a career K/9 rate of 11.9 and 110 saves over the past three seasons.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 62 0 | 5 3 37 | 62.1 | 75 3.47 1.36

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STARTING PITCHER AGE: 35 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 215 | THW: R | BAT: R

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James Shields #33

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Jose Quintana #62

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Nate Jones #65

Zach Putnam #57

Lucas Giolito #27

Jose Abreu #79

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 31 | HT: 6-5 | WT: 220 | THW: R | BAT: R

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 29 | HT: 6-2 | WT: 220 | THW: R | BAT: R

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 22 | HT: 6-6 | WT: 255 | THW: R | BAT: R

FIRST BASE AGE: 30 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 255 | THW: R | BAT: R

A blazing fastball and a nearly unhittable slider have allowed Jones to emerge as one of baseball’s top setup men. He’ll begin the 2017 season in the same role, though he could move into the closer’s role with David Robertson expected to be moved by July’s trade deadline. Jones could also become a target for teams looking for relief help.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 71 0 | 5 3 3 | 70.2 | 80 2.29 0.89

Putnam put together another strong campaign in 2016 with a 2.30 ERA in 25 appearances, but like Petricka, his season ended in surgery when he had bone chips removed from his arm in August.

Putnam should regain his spot in the bullpen after posting 140 strikeouts in 130 ⅔ innings since 2014.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 25 0 | 1 0 0 | 27.1 | 30 2.30 1.32

Fans will have to wait to see Giolito on the south side with MLB’s No. 11 prospect set to open the season at Triple-A. Despite the high pedigree, 2016 was a tough year for Giolito with control issues and lost velocity.

That didn’t stop the White Sox from trading for him, but they will give him a bit more time to develop in the minors.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 6 4 | 0 1 0 | 21.1 | 11 6.75 1.78

It’s somehwatodd that Abreu’s 2016 felt like a disappointment despite a third-straight season with at least 25 home runs and 100 RBIs. Abreu’s WAR has fallen from 5.5 as a rookie back in 2014 to 3.8 in 2015 and down to 2.8 last year. Still, after a slow start in 2016, he rebounded in the second half by hitting .319/.384/.514.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 159 624 | 67 25 100 | 0 | .293 .353 .468

Jake Petricka #52

Carson Fulmer #51

Omar Narvaez #38

Tim Anderson #7

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 28 | HT: 6-5 | WT: 220 | THW: R | BAT: R

RELIEF PITCHER AGE: 23 | HT: 6-0 | WT: 195 | THW: R | BAT: R

CATCHER AGE: 25 | HT: 5-11 | WT: 215 | THW: L | BAT: R

SHORTSTOP AGE: 23 | HT: 6-1 | WT: 185 | THW: R | BAT: R

Was once a promising young righthander, even notching 14 saves after taking over the closer’s role in June of 2014. Control issues caused his stock to sink the next season, and the 28-year-old missed nearly all of last year after undergoing hip surgery. Still, a high 90s fastball will buy Petricka time to work on his secondary pitches.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 9 0 | 0 0 0 | 8.0 | 7 4.50 2.00

Barring an injury or trade before opening day, the White Sox’s firstround pick in 2015 will begin the season in the minors. The team will stretch out one of baseball’s top pitching prospects, who was used in the bullpen last season after getting called up in July. Fulmer’s first taste of the majors didn’t go well, with 11 runs allowed in 11 innings.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP GS | W L SV | IP | K ERA WHIP 8 0 | 0 2 0 | 11.2 | 10 8.49 1.63

Finding a steady, reliable catcher has remained a problem for the White Sox for much of the past decade.

It’s tough to imagine Narvaez is the answer. The 25-year-old is a career .277 hitter in the minors with just seven home runs. On a positive note, Narvaez did display a keen eye at the plate in his first taste of the majors last season.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 34 101 | 13 1 10 | 0 | .267 .350 .337

The White Sox displayed their confidence in their young shortstop this spring by signing him to a six-year contract. Anderson burst into the major leagues by posting 37 extra-base hits in 410 at-bats after only being called up in May. His inability to draw walks is concerning, but that should come with more experience.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 99 410 | 57 9 30 | 10 | .283 .306 .432

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Melky Cabrera #53

Leury Garcia #28

THIRD BASE AGE: 31 | HT: 6-3 | WT: 220 | THW: R | BAT: R

INFIELD AGE: 21 | HT: 6-2 | WT: 205 | THW: R | BAT: S

LEFT FIELD AGE: 32 | HT: 5-10 | WT: 210 | THW: L | BAT: S

CENTER FIELD AGE: 26 | HT: 5-8 | WT: 170 | THW: R | BAT: S

Much to the frustration of Sox fans, Frazier struggled to keep his batting average above the Mendoza line for the first three months of the 2016 season.

While the strikeouts were a concern, the slugger also suffered through some terrible luck in the early going. Frazier looked much more like himself once things normalized in the second half.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 1 58 590 | 89 40 89 | 15 | .225 .302 .464

The No. 2 prospect in baseball will begin the season in Triple-A, and fans will certainly follow his time in the minors closely. Only 21 years old, Moncada already possesses tremendous bat speed and the potential to swipe 40 or more bases. The White Sox hope the switch-hitter can improve his patience at the plate before receiving his call-up.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 8 19 | 3 0 1 | 0 | .211 .250 .263

Cabrera’s consistency over his career seems to go overlooked. The outfielder has averaged a respectable .290 with 14 homers and 79 RBIs over the past three seasons. Those numbers won’t set the world on fire, but Cabrera remains a stable, high-contact bat in the lineup. The veteran should draw interest at the trade deadline.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 151 591 | 70 14 86 | 2 | .296 .345 .455

There aren’t a lot of positives to find for a guy that has posted a .188/.225/.237 slash line across parts of four major league seasons. Despite his lackluster numbers, Garcia is likely to break camp with the White Sox due to his versatility. The switchhitter could see time in the outfield and infield.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 18 48 | 6 1 5 | 2 | .229 .260 .354

Tyler Saladino #20

Matt Davidson #24

Avisail Garcia #26

Charlie Tilson #22

SECOND BASE AGE: 27 | HT: 6-0 | WT: 200 | THW: R | BAT: R

THIRD BASE AGE: 31 | HT: 6-5 | WT: 220 | THW: R | BAT: R

RIGHT FIELD AGE: 25 | HT: 6-4 | WT: 240 | THW: R | BAT: R

CENTER FIELD AGE: 24 | HT: 5-11 | WT: 195 | THW: L | BAT: L

There’s nothing flashy about Saladino’s game, but he quietly posted a 1.8 WAR in 2016, despite playing in only 93 games. The White Sox obviously saw enough to release veteran Brett Lawrie this spring. Saladino isn’t the team’s long-term solution at second base, but he’ll keep the spot warm until Yoan Moncada is ready.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 93 298 | 33 8 38 | 11 | .282 .315 .409

Once considered a top 100 Major League prospect, Davidson will finally get his shot with the White Sox this year as the team’s designated hitter. There’s no doubt that the 26-year-old certainly has big-league power, but his contact rate remains an issue. Davidson has struck out in a staggering 30.1 percent of his minor league at-bats.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 1 2 | 1 0 1 | 0 | .500 .500 .500

The White Sox had high expectations for Garcia when they acquired him from the Tigers in 2013. Poor defense and a lack of power have kept the 25-year-old from fulfilling his promise.

He was a candidate to be nontendered this past offseason, but the White Sox are opting to give Garcia one more chance in a rebuilding season.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 120 413 | 59 12 51 | 4 | .245 .307 .385

Things haven’t gone well for Tilson since he arrived in Chicago following a trade with the Cardinals last summer.

He tore his hamstring in his major league debut and missed the remainder of the 2016 season. Now, Tilson will open 2017 on the DL after suffering a stress reaction in his right ankle. It’s unclear when he’ll get back on the field.

2016 REGULAR-SEASON STATS GP AB | R HR RBI | SB | BA OBP SLG 1 2 | 0 0 0 | 0 | .500 .500 .500

José Abreu AP PHOTOS

David Robertson AP PHOTOS

Todd Frazier AP PHOTOS

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Todd Frazier #21

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Five Chicago Cubs stories to follow this season

By Bruce

Miles

T DAILY HERALD @BruceMiles2112

he Chicago Cubs are defending world champions, so there are no questions or concerns surrounding this team, right?

No, that’s never the case, no matter how good the team might be.

The Cubs go into the 2017 season as the favorites in the National League Central and the pick of many to make it back to the World Series for a second straight year.

But even the smoothest ride has squeaky wheels along the way. Here are five storylines worth watching as the new season gets under way:

1. Early

and often

Manager Joe Maddon, as he has done in his first two seasons with the Cubs, talks constantly about scoring first in games and getting off to a good start to the season.

The Cubs opened the 2016 season with a record of 25-5 on the way to 103 victories for the season.

That enabled them to weather a midseason storm and go on to win the division by 17 ½ games.

In games the Cubs scored first, they were 73-20.

2. Fitting

them all in

The Cubs’ exceptional depth means that good players will sit at the start of each game.

How does Maddon fit them all in? That’s why he gets paid the big bucks.

Ben Zobrist is 35 years old and the World Series MVP, but he may not start as many games as he’d like at second base because of the emergence of Javier Baez, a glove whiz and power hitter.

The way Maddon mixes and matches during the course of any one game, Zobrist should see plenty of playing time, whether it’s at second base or in the outfield. Jon Jay and Albert Almora Jr. will share time in center field, and their gloves should get them onto the field for plenty of action.

3. Arrieta’s

contract year

Right-hander Jake Arrieta won the 2015 Cy Young Award and is 40-14 Jake Arrieta with a 2.39 ERA over the past two seasons.

This is Arrieta’s free-agent year, and you can’t blame him if he wants to cash in via free agency for the first time since being drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2007.

Baseball is a business, and Arrieta’s agent is the high-powered Scott Boras. The Cubs are aware

Arrieta is 31 years old.

Both sides express mutual respect for one another, and it seems sincere. Given that, it’s difficult to imagine the situation becoming a distraction, especially if the Cubs are in position to win another World Series.

4. Six

shooters

Maddon likes to use six starting pitchers during busy parts of the season. His reasoning is that the additional starter keeps everyone fresh for the stretch drive and postseason.

The Cubs have six bonafide starting pitchers in Jon Lester, Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, John Lackey, Mike Montgomery and Brett Anderson.

With plenty of off-days – not to mention possible rainouts – in April, the need for a sixth starter isn’t urgent at the beginning of the season. So whichever pitcher doesn’t crack the five-man rotation – Montgomery or Anderson – will then head to the bullpen.

But as the weather heats up and off-days become fewer and more precious, Maddon will likely insert a sixth starter as he did at times last year. Veteran pitchers, especially those who have enjoyed success, don’t always like the six-man rotation, saying it disrupts their routine. But Maddon is taking the longer view, one that extends into November.

5. The

Schwarber watch

Kyle Schwarber played in only two regular-season games last year because of a serious knee injury he suffered during the first week of April.

After he added to his growing legend by making it back to play in the World Series, Schwarber is set to be the Cubs’ left fielder and leadoff man this season.

Schwarber’s powerful left-handed bat is his calling card, and it’s almost impossible to keep that bat out of the lineup. He would love to catch, but the knee injury, as well as the fact that the Cubs have catchers Willson Contreras and Miguel Montero at No. 1 and No. 2 on the depth chart, will keep that from happening a whole lot this year.

But it’s fun to dream about the kind of numbers Schwarber is capable of putting up if he can play a full season.

The Cubs and their fans are looking forward to a full season from left fielder Kyle Schwarber PHOTOS BY AP

By Scot

Gregor

DAILY HERALD @scotgregor

I

t’s a new season for the Chicago White Sox and — for the first time since Jerry Reinsdorf assumed control of the franchise in 1981 – making the playoffs is not the primary objective.

The Sox want to win this year, but they haven’t been to the postseason since 2008 and are rebuilding after four straight losing seasons.

Tired of patching major-league rosters together around a handful of quality players, the White Sox are gradually restocking a de-

pleted farm system and the aim is to be competitive on an annual basis in the near future.

As they make the transition from old to young, there are going to be rough patches in the weeks and months to come. Here are five stories to watch with the White Sox this season:

1. Rumor mill

General manager Rick Hahn traded ace starter Chris Sale (Boston) and leadoff hitter Adam Eaton (Washington) on consecutive days in early December, netting seven prospects in return.

Hahn is eager to move even more veterans – Jose Quintana and David Robertson are the most likely to go first – but he is holding

out for maximum value.

“We’ve got a fairly clear sense of what the value of certain players is,” Hahn said. “The only reason to be motivated to make a move is based upon receiving what we feel is appropriate value and helps advance what we’re trying to accomplish over the long term.”

2. Prospect watch According to Baseball America, second baseman Yoan Moncada and starting pitchers Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez are the White Sox’s top 3 prospects this season, with starter Michael Kopech checking in at No. 5.

All four players came over in trades for Sale and Eaton – Moncada and Kopech from the Red Sox, and Giolito and Lopez from the Nationals.

With the White Sox finally committed to giving their best young players time to develop in the minor leagues, it looks like Moncada, Giolito and Lopez will open the season with Triple-A Charlotte and Kopech will start with high Class A Winston-Salem or Double-A Birmingham.

Who arrives with the Sox first? On the positional side, Moncada is good enough to play in the major leagues right now. But with the White Sox wary of rushing any young player, Moncada might not be up until the all-star break, assuming he fares well at Charlotte.

Lopez looks to be the most polished arm, but having the luxury of working on his off-speed pitches and gaining confidence at Triple-A could also signal an arrival around the break.

3. North to South

Rick Renteria begins his first season on the South Side after previously managing the Cubs PHOTO BY AP

Managing a very young Cubs team in 2014, Rick Renteria got the bum’s rush at the end of the season when Joe Maddon became available.

Don’t feel too sorry for Renteria.

Dating back to his days as a journeyman major-league player with the Pirates, Mariners and Marlins, nothing has come easy for the 55-year-old Renteria.

Having to scratch and claw for

everything he has earned in the game makes Renteria well suited to manage a Sox team that is rebuilding.

With eight years of minor-league managing experience, six years of major-league coaching experience with the Padres, his brief stint as Cubs manager and spending the 2016 season as the White Sox’s bench coach, Renteria will not be taken by surprise.

He’s a skilled teacher and full of energy, two positive attributes for his new role in the Sox’s dugout.

4. He gone?

At SoxFest, veteran TV broadcaster Ken “Hawk” Harrelson said he wanted to keep working through the 2020 season because it would give him eight decades in professional baseball.

“Vin (Scully) was in eight decades, Don Zimmer was in there eight decades, Dave Garcia was in there,” Harrelson said. “There’s probably only four or five guys in that group, in that club.”

Harrelson was in the booth for road games and a few home games last season, and he’s planning the same schedule again this year.

But from 2018-20, the 75-year-old icon said he wants to reduce his broadcast load even more, and Harrelson sounds content working primarily as a Sox ambassador.

5. Gatekeeper In seasons past, one of the stumbling blocks of doing a rebuild was attendance concerns. Going young on the field translated into too many empty seats for the White Sox’s liking.

Now that the rebuild is on, a majority of Sox fans have given their approval. But that doesn’t mean they’re going to fill Guaranteed Rate Field this season.

The Sox have been in the bottom half of American League attendance for five straight seasons, so it’s not like they were packing fans in with veteran teams expected to contend.

Even with ridiculously cheap ticket prices, they’ll be fortunate to draw 1.5 million in attendance this season.

But if the rebuild is a success, the White Sox should be competitive in 2019 and see much better numbers at the gate.

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Five stories for White Sox fans to watch this season

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

White Sox GM Rick Hahn (inset) traded for new starting pitch Lucas Giolito as part of the White Sox rebuild. The Sox have a farm system that is now ranked No. 5 by Baseball America Brian Hill - bhill@dailyherald.com

AP PHOTO

Have patience, will trade

By Scot

Gregor

DAILY HERALD @scotgregor

H

e’s been on the job four seasons, and the Chicago White Sox have finished last in the AL Central once and in fourth place three

times.

Since the 2013 season, the White Sox have a combined 290-358 record.

In a pass / fail business, the numbers don’t add up for Rick Hahn. But considering what the Sox once were and what they now aspire to be, the 46-year-old general manager’s grade is incomplete.

Fed up with patching rosters together around a handful of quality

Hahn gets the rebuild started, but can he finish the job? players, Hahn finally stepped up and blew the whistle on the White Sox last July.

“We’re mired in mediocrity,” the GM said. “That’s not the goal. That’s not acceptable. The goal was to put ourselves in a situation to win a championship and (being) stuck at .500 or around .500 doesn’t do that.

We may well have to adjust and take a longer-term view and take a different approach going forward.”

With Hahn making the biggest push, the White Sox finally have adjusted.

Considering they’ve made only one

playoff appearance – and have only one playoff win – since storming to the 2005 World Series championship, something had to change.

On July 31 of last season, Hahn launched a needed rebuild when he traded veteran relief pitcher Zach Duke to the St. Louis Cardinals for young center fielder Charlie Tilson.

“I have said and will reiterate that where we are at right now, essentially in the middle of the pack, is not acceptable,” Hahn said after the Duke deal. “Our approach of trying to piece things together to find a way to contend each year hasn’t gotten us

to where we’ve been able to have sustained success.

“So we’ve had a number of very open and honest conversations internally involving Jerry (Reinsdorf), Kenny (Williams) and myself about where we are and what’s the best way to get to where we want to be.”

Since taking control of the Sox in 1981, Reinsdorf has strongly preferred veteran players over prospects. And when Williams was general manager from 2001-12, he wouldn’t hesitate to trade young players for old.

That strategy paid off in 2005, but it hasn’t worked for a decade. Something had to change, and it has.

After trading Duke and then veteran catcher Dioner Navarro, Hahn followed up with a pair of major (Continued on Page 20)

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(Continued from Page 18) moves on consecutive days in December.

He sent disgruntled ace starter Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox on Dec. 6 for second baseman Yoan Moncada, starting pitcher Michael Kopech, outfielder Luis Alexander Basabe and reliever Victor Diaz.

On Dec. 7, Hahn traded outfielder Adam Eaton to the Washington Nationals for starters Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning.

Just like that, the White Sox have a farm system that is now ranked No. 5 by Baseball America after checking in at No. 23 last year.

Give Hahn credit for getting the rebuild off to a promising start, and give Williams and finally Reinsdorf credit for getting on board with the plan.

But keep the incomplete grade for Hahn in mind.

While Moncada, Giolito, Lopez and Kopech are now rated as the Sox’s No. 1, 2, 3 and 5 prospects, more young talent is needed if the franchise hopes to start contending in, say, 2019.

Hahn is still waiting on a suitable haul in a Jose Quintana trade, and he’s also trying to get maximum trade value for veteran players such

as David Robertson and Todd Frazier.

But adding prospects such as Moncada, Giolito, Lopez and Kopech – along with drafting players such as Zack Collins, Zack Burdi and Alec Hansen – indicates Hahn and the White Sox are moving in the right direction.

“To see these guys in this clubhouse and on the back fields, to see the second wave of guys that will be coming after this first wave of prospects and to sit down and talk to Rick about the possibilities trade-wise we may have out there in the future, free agency, international signing-wise, we’re in full-go mode and it’s exciting,” Williams told reporters late in spring training. “A lot of us around here needed this kind of jolt. So yes, we were full-go in terms of all being on the same page wanting to get this done. We still have a ways to go.”

Trading Sale and Eaton in rapid succession clearly showed Hahn was serious about tearing it down and starting over, but he’s been quiet for over three months.

Rival general managers have grumbled about the high price Hahn is asking for Quintana and others, but the White Sox’s GM remains confident his patience will pay off.

Even if he has to wait until the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline to

make more moves, Hahn is determined to do the rebuild right.

“We’ve been committed to building through the draft, trying to retain some of our minor league assets as we’ve accumulated them but at the same time trying to win in Chicago,” Hahn said. “A lot of people have said that’s a difficult errand to execute, it’s a difficult path and one you don’t tend to see throughout the game these days. You tend to see teams going for the full teardown. You saw many of them in the National League this year and you’ve seen clubs execute that strategy very successfully, including the Cubs.

“So I do feel that you see the template for picking one route versus the other, and you do run a risk of having half-measures, so to speak, when you try to serve two masters, when you try to serve the future as well as the present.

“We’ve tried that, and we’ve had obviously not the success we’ve wanted in Chicago going that path.

We aren’t going to back down from it being a challenge. We aren’t going to shy away from it just because other clubs haven’t done it. At the same time we have to be fully aware and fully cognizant of the fact it hasn’t worked thus far, and therefore something has to change.”

AP PHOTO / NAM Y. HUH

New White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada came to Chicago from Boston in the Chris Sale trade.

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Who is the biggest challenge to a Cubs repeat?

By JOHN SAHLY SHAW MEDIA DIGITAL

R @JSahly

epeating as World Series champion hasn’t been the norm in Major League Baseball this century.

With the playoffs expanding, first in 1995 with the wild card, and then a second wild card added in 2012, the odds of a repeat champion have similarly fallen. The only franchise to win consecutive World Series in the wild card era is the New York Yankees, who won three straight between 1998-2000.

Since then, only one franchise has even put itself back into the World Series with a chance at a repeat. The 2009 Philadelphia Phillies lost to the Yankees in six games after winning it all in 2008.

While the Cubs are the odds-on favorite to repeat as World Series champs, recent history says the challenge is difficult. Here are five

teams that could stand in the way of a repeat.

1. Cleveland

so many injuries again, right? Los Angeles set an MLB record by putting 28 players on the disabled list in 2016, and still came back from seven games down to win the NL West.

Add in what could be a breakout year for pitcher Julio Urias, the additon of a solid Logan Forsythe, plus manager Dave Roberts now with a year of experience under his belt, and the Dodgers will be a force in the National League.

Indians

Why not start with the team that came closest to knocking off the Cubs last season?

The scariest thing here for the Cubs is that last year’s American League champions were so hobbled by injuries that they were starting Trevor Bauer in multiple World Series games despite Bauer essentially pitching with nine fingers after a drone accident.

Now the Indians have a healthy Carlos Carrasco and a healthier Danny Salazar, plus a full year of closer Andrew Miller. Oh, and they signed Edwin Encarnacion, one of the best power bats available, to add to an already potent lineup. They also get Michael Brantley back, and Francisco Lindor looks primed to enter the MVP discussion sooner rather than later.

2. Los

3. New

York Mets

The bottom line for the Mets is this: Can their elite pitching staff stay healthy? Matt Harvey had season-ending surgery in July of last year, Zack Wheeler didn’t pitch in 2016 while rehabbing, Jacob deGrom and Steven Matz had season-ending elbow surgery in September, and Noah Syndergaard played much of last season with a bone spur.

If they’re healthy, the Mets lineup is potent enough with Yoenis Cespedes, Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson and Michael Conforto in a

Angeles Dodgers

There’s no way the Dodgers, who took the Cubs to six games in last year’s NLCS, will deal with

crowded outfield to cause headaches for opposing pitchers.

Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA system has the Mets finishing a game ahead of the Nationals, too.

4. Washington

Nationals

Speaking of the Nationals, there are no easy outs in that lineup, which added Adam Eaton at the top, Matt Wieters to catch, and now gets a full year of sparkplug Trea Turner to help a healthy Bryce Harper.

Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer still leads the rotation, and if – always if – Stephen Strasburg can just stay healthy, the rotation can hang with anyone.

5. Boston

Red Sox

Yes, the Red Sox lost David Ortiz, but any lineup with Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Dustin Pedroia, Jackie Bradley Jr. and now Andrew Benintendi is formidable.

The rotation looks just as dangerous, as the Red Sox will be able to roll out David Price, newly acquired Chris Sale, and then last year’s Cy Young winner Rick Porcello.

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Unlike the Cubs and other teams, Sox rebuild starts with pitching

By Kyle

Nabors

NORTHWEST HERALD @KyleNabors

T

he pressure on White Sox general manager Rick Hahn to bring a sustained winner to the south side is real and palpable.

A nine-year postseason drought and four straight losing campaigns had already torpedoed attendance and destroyed morale around Guaranteed Rate Field.

Then came the celebration 108 years in the making just eight miles away in Wrigleyville — the culmination of a five-year rebuild executed

by Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and his front-office team.

After years of trying to patch a leaky roster, Hahn was left with little choice but to follow suit.

“We realize there is very real frus-

tration within our fan base, watching their friends and neighbors celebrate the highest level of success,” Hahn told reporters at the annual GM meetings in November. “It has been since 2005 since we have been able to celebrate that kind of success.”

So, much like Epstein did in Oct. 2011, Hahn began the process of tearing down his roster this past winter.

Starter Chris Sale was shipped to the Red Sox for Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Luis Alexander Basabe and Victor Diaz. A day later, Hahn sent outfielder Adam Eaton to the Nationals in exchange for Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning.

By the time the White Sox departed for spring training in Arizona, nine of the team’s top 10 prospects, according to MLB.com’s rankings, are new to the organization from just a year ago. Six are ranked in the top 100, and the organization itself trails only the Braves and Yankees for the league’s top farm system.

In terms of aggressiveness, Hahn was arguably more active than Epstein in his first offseason of the rebuild. Epstein, however, had fewer

tradable assets and still managed to land Anthony Rizzo in exchange for Andrew Cashner.

That’s not to say the White Sox’s makeover will be just as successful as the Cubs’ or that it will be completed in a similarly expedient and well-defined fashion.

It’s also tough to determine how Hahn is going about the rebuild with such a small sample size.

Hahn and the White Sox have often followed conventional baseball wisdom – you can never have too much pitching. Sale, Carlos Rodon, Carson Fulmer and Zack Burdi are all recent examples through the amateur draft. The trades for Giolito, Lopez, Dunning, Kopech and Diaz seem to signal that the organization hasn’t deviated from that thought process.

Sticking to a pitching-first mentality does seem a bit odd after the Astros, Yankees and – most notably – the White Sox’s north side rivals proved that powerful farm systems can be built by amassing offense.

The Cubs spent five consecutive firstround draft choices from 2011-2015 on position players: Javier Baez (a

Jim Hendry selection), Albert Almora Jr., Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ.

Epstein further strengthened that offensive core with trades for Rizzo and Addison Russell along with turning to the international market to sign Jorge Soler, Eloy Jimenez and Gleyber Torres.

By the beginning of the 2014 season, eight of the Cubs’ top 10 prospects on MLB.com were hitters.

Of course, after overseeing a farm system that has ranked near the bottom of the league for much of the last decade, Hahn may feel he doesn’t have the luxury to focus on one aspect, but instead must try to simply acquire as much talent as possible, regardless of position.

“The last few years, we’ve had a very top-heavy roster and the reason we haven’t won had nothing to do with the quality players at the top end of that roster,” Hahn told MLB. com in February. “When the time comes that we are in a position to contend again, we are going to be approaching that with ideally a much deeper, more thoroughly balanced roster than what we had.

“It had to do with what was going on with not just one through 25, but one through 35 or 40. So now, as we (Continued on Page 24)

The White Sox used their 2015 first-round draft pick on pitcher Carson Fulmer AP PHOTO / CHARLIE RIEDEL

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Armed to the teeth

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

(Continued from Page 23) approach this, we have to build that organizational quality depth, not just insurance policies, but real highcaliber depth.”

Yet, despite the scatter-shot approach, the White Sox might be closer to turning the corner than the Cubs were at this point in their rebuilding process.

Lefty Jose Quintana continues to be one of the most coveted players on the trade market. The 28-year-old will likely bring back a haul similar to what the White Sox received for Sale if moved during the upcoming season, while Todd Frazier, David Robertson, Melky Cabrera and even Jose Abreu could be moved by the trade deadline.

If Hahn is able to turn those pieces into additional near-Major League ready talent, the White Sox could be ready to pursue veteran talent in free agency as early as next offseason, and certainly by the time a highly anticipated class of free agents hit the market after 2018.

But don’t expect Hahn to guess when exactly White Sox fans will be able to stop looking enviously at their north side brethren.

“I think it’s too soon to put a firm end date on this,” Hahn said during

Pitcher Jose Quintana likely will be moved during the upcoming season to bring back more young talent AP PHOTO / CHARLES KRUPA

a recent radio interview on 670 The Score.

“That said, when we started this process we had a general idea of how many more drafts, how many more trade deadlines, offseasons,

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free-agent markets, it would take to get us back to where we want to be, in a position to win on a sustainable basis.

“In all candor, if you had asked me in November how long I thought it

would take, that answer would probably be slightly different after the December trades because we feel good about what we were able to accomplish, and that arguably moved up the clock a little bit.”

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No longer losers, Cubs don’t have to be loved, either

I

n 2016, the Cubs dropped the “losers” tag that had been associated with the franchise for more than a century.

The next step is to erase the “loveable” part.

As President Donald Trump might say, I want the Cubs to win so much that people get sick of them winning.

Last November, it was pretty common to hear non-Cubs fans say “I wanted the Cubs to win.”

You mean since last month? That’s nice. I’ve wanted them to win since I was 7 in 1984 and Steve Garvey broke my little heart.

Some of us started pulling for the Cubs decades ago, enduring the ever-growing mythology of losing and disappointment, and then the team finally, finally wins after all these years and all the bandwagon-jumpers want to share in the glory.

Last time, most Cubs fans were probably too shocked that the team had even won the World Series to care who was celebrating with them.

But for 2017, and for the rest of this decade at least, I’m rooting for the Cubs to become so dominant that peo-

ple will pull for any other After years of losing, team to beat them. the Cubs’ goal this season I want them to hate the should be to start a baseball Cubs the way real White dynasty that will inspire Sox fans hate the Cubs. resentment in baseball One sign of greatness is fans around the country. when everyone but your That’s the big question own fan base is sick of that will unfold as the you. years pass: Can AnthoI still remember when ny Rizzo and Kris Bryant I stopped in a bar in Paadd their names to the ERIC OLSON list of special players who ducah, Kentucky, in June SHAW SUBURBAN MEDIA @DC_Editor brought multiple champi1998 to catch the last quarter of Game 2 of the NBA onships to Chicago, alongFinals between the Bulls and Utah side the Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane Jazz. and Jonathan Toews, and the Bulls’ It would be the last of the Bulls’ six Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen? championships in the 1990s, and the Will Joe Maddon join Phil Jackson Bulls mounted a furious comeback to and Joel Quenneville in the Pantheon beat Karl Malone and the Jazz to even of Chicago coaches? (Mike Ditka gets the series at a game apiece. his own wing of the Pantheon.)

Other than me and my friends Repeating as champions in profesfrom Illinois, everyone in the place sional sports is incredibly difficult was watching the game and cheering (ask Ditka). The temptation is to beloudly for the Jazz. lieve that past success can be easily They were so sick of the dominance duplicated. of Michael Jordan and the Bulls that But it’s tough to see how the Cubs they’d rather see anyone else win. might have weakened between No(We were the ones who left happy vember and now. that night – Jordan led the Bulls to a Yes, John Lackey’s a year older, fourth-quarter comeback to win.)

Dexter Fowler’s gone and there’s no

guarantee that Jason Heyward will ever regain his hitting stroke.

But their young players, Javier Baez and Addison Russell and Willson Contreras, should all be more mature and experienced.

Sure, over the course of a 162-game season, you can have injuries, but the Cubs lost Kyle Schwarber for almost the entire 2016 season and won 103 games. If they play eight games off last year’s pace, they’re a playoff team – and the defending champs at that.

I could have some blind spots in my analysis – after all, I’ve never tried to gauge the strength of a defending-champion Cubs team before.

I’ve heard that past success can cloud one’s judgment.

Despite that, this really feels like a team with the right leadership and a great foundation of talent.

It has the makings of a team that could be genuinely hated in Paducah in just a few short years.

Eric Olson is Shaw Suburban Media’s group editor. You can reach him at 815-756-4841 ext. 2257 or email eolson@shawmedia.com.

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Sun., April 2 Tues., April 4 Wed., April 5 Fri., April 7 Sat., April 8 Sun., April 9 Mon., April 10 Wed., April 12 Thur., April 13 Fri., April 14 Sat., April 15 Sun., April 16 Mon., April 17 Tues., April 18 Wed., April 19 Fri., April 21 Sat., April 22 Sun., April 23 Mon., April 24 Tues., April 25 Wed., April 26 Fri., April 28 Sat., April 29 Sun., April 30

OPPONENT

at Cardinals at Cardinals at Cardinals at Brewers at Brewers at Brewers vs. Dodgers vs. Dodgers vs. Dodgers vs. Pirates vs. Pirates vs. Pirates vs. Brewers vs. Brewers vs. Brewers at Reds at Reds at Reds at Pirates at Pirates at Pirates at Red Sox at Red Sox at Red Sox

TIME

7:35 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

12:45 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

12:10 p.m.

12:10 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

3:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

TV

ESPN CSN+ WGN CSN CSN+ WGN ESPN ABC CSN WGN CSN WGN CSN WGN CSN WGN ABC CSN WGN WGN CSN CSN ABC ESPN

MAY DATE

2017 schedule & HIGHLIGHTS

Mon., May 1 Tues., May 2 Wed., May 3 Thur., May 4 Fri., May 5 Sat., May 6 Sun., May 7

CRYSTAL LAKE

TRAVEL

OPPONENT

vs. Phillies vs. Phillies vs. Phillies vs. Phillies vs. Yankees vs. Yankees vs. Yankees

TIME

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:20 p.m 1:20 p.m 6:15 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

TV

CSN+ CSN CSN WGN CSN FOX ESPN

TRAVEL

at Rockies at Rockies at Rockies at Cardinals at Cardinals at Cardinals vs. Reds vs. Reds vs. Reds vs. Brewers vs. Brewers vs. Brewers vs. Giants vs. Giants vs. Giants vs. Giants at Dodgers at Dodgers at Dodgers at Padres at Padres at Padres

7:40 p.m.

7:40 p.m.

2:10 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

3:05 p.m.

1:15 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

9:10 p.m.

6:15 p.m.

3:10 p.m.

3:40 p.m.

9:10 p.m.

2:40 p.m.

CSN WGN CSN CSN FS1, ABC WGN CSN WGN CSN CSN CSN WGN WGN CSN CSN ABC ABC FOX CSN ABC CSN+ WGN

JUNE DATE

OPPONENT

Fri., June 2 Sat., June 3 Sun., June 4 Mon., June 5 Tues., June 6 Wed., June 7 Thur., June 8 Fri., June 9 Sat., June 10 Sun., June 11 Mon., June 12

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Mon., May 8 Tues., May 9 Wed., May 10 Fri., May 12 Sat., May 13 Sun., May 14 Tues., May 16 Wed., May 17 Thur., May 18 Fri., May 19 Sat., May 20 Sun., May 21 Mon., May 22 Tues., May 23 Wed., May 24 Thur., May 25 Fri., May 26 Sat., May 27 Sun., May 28 Mon., May 29 Tues., May 30 Wed., May 31

vs. Cardinals vs. Cardinals vs. Cardinals vs. Marlins vs. Marlins vs. Marlins vs. Rockies vs. Rockies vs. Rockies vs. Rockies at Mets

TIME

1:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

6:35 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

TV

CSN WGN ESPN CSN CSN WGN CSN+ CSN ABC WGN CSN

Tues., June 13 Wed., June 14 Fri., June 16 Sat., June 17 Sun., June 18 Mon., June 19 Tues., June 20 Wed., June 21 Thur., June 22 Fri., June 23 Sat., June 24 Sun., June 25 Mon., June 26 Tues., June 27 Wed., June 28 Thur., June 29 Fri., June 30

at Mets at Mets at Pirates at Pirates at Pirates vs. Padres vs. Padres vs. Padres at Marlins at Marlins at Marlins at Marlins at Nationals at Nationals at Nationals at Nationals at Reds

6:10 p.m. ABC 6:10 p.m. CSN 6:05 p.m. WGN 7:15 p.m. FOX 12:35 p.m. CSN 7:05 p.m. CSN 7:05 p.m. CSN 1:20 p.m. WGN 6:10 p.m. CSN 6:10 p.m. WGN 3:10 p.m. ABC 12:10 p.m. CSN 6:05 p.m. CSN 6:05 p.m. ABC 6:05 p.m. CSN 3:05 p.m. CSN 6:10 p.m. WGN

JULY DATE

Sat., July 1 Sun., July 2 Tues., July 4 Wed., July 5 Fri., July 7 Sat., July 8 Sun., July 9 Fri., July 14 Sat., July 15 Sun., July 16 Mon., July 17 Tues., July 18 Wed., July 19 Fri., July 21 Sat., July 22

OPPONENT

at Reds at Reds vs. Rays vs. Rays vs. Pirates vs. Pirates vs. Pirates at Orioles at Orioles at Orioles at Braves at Braves at Braves vs. Cardinals vs. Cardinals

TIME

TV

3:10 p.m. CSN 12:10 p.m. WGN 1:20 p.m. WGN 1:20 p.m. CSN 1:20 p.m. CSN 6:15 p.m. FOX 12:10 p.m. WGN 6:05 p.m. CSN 6:05 p.m. ABC 12:35 p.m. ABC 6:35 p.m. WGN 6:35 p.m. CSN 11:10 a.m. CSN 1:20 p.m. ABC 3:05 p.m. CSN, FS1

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CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

APRIL DATE

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

Sun., July 23 Mon., July 24 Tues., July 25 Wed., July 26 Thur., July 27 Fri., July 28 Sat., July 29 Sun., July 30

vs. Cardinals vs. White Sox vs. White Sox at White Sox at White Sox at Brewers at Brewers at Brewers

7:05 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

ESPN ABC CSN ABC CSN CSN+ WGN CSN

AUGUST DATE

OPPONENT

Tues., Aug. 1 Wed., Aug. 2 Thur., Aug. 3 Fri., Aug. 4 Sat., Aug. 5 Sun., Aug. 6 Mon., Aug. 7 Tues., Aug. 8 Wed., Aug. 9 Fri., Aug. 11 Sat., Aug. 12 Sun., Aug. 13 Mon., Aug. 14 Tues., Aug. 15 Wed., Aug. 16 Thur., Aug. 17 Fri., Aug. 18 Sat., Aug. 19 Sun., Aug. 20 Tues., Aug. 22 Wed., Aug. 23 Thur., Aug. 24 Fri., Aug. 25 Sat., Aug. 26 Sun., Aug. 27

vs. D-backs vs. D-backs vs. D-backs vs. Nationals vs. Nationals vs. Nationals at Giants at Giants at Giants at D-backs at D-backs at D-backs vs. Reds vs. Reds vs. Reds vs. Reds vs. Blue Jays vs. Blue Jays vs. Blue Jays at Reds at Reds at Reds at Phillies at Phillies at Phillies

TIME

TV

7:05 p.m. CSN 7:05 p.m. WGN 1:20 p.m. CSN 1:20 p.m. WGN 1:20 p.m. WGN TBD TBD 9:15 p.m. WGN 9:15 p.m. CSN 2:45 p.m. CSN 8:40 p.m. CSN 7:10 p.m. WGN 3:10 p.m. ABC 7:05 p.m. WGN 7:05 p.m. CSN 7:05 p.m. WGN 1:20 p.m. CSN 1:20 p.m. CSN 1:20 p.m. ABC 1:20 p.m. WGN 6:10 p.m. WGN 6:10 p.m. CSN 6:10 p.m. CSN 6:05 p.m. WGN 6:05 p.m. ABC 12:35 p.m.. CSN

Mon., Aug. 28 Tues., Aug. 29 Wed., Aug. 30 Thur., Aug. 31

vs. Pirates vs. Pirates vs. Pirates vs. Braves

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

WGN CSN+ CSN CSN

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER DATE

OPPONENT

Fri., Sept. 1 Sat., Sept. 2 Sun., Sept. 3 Mon., Sept. 4 Tues., Sept. 5 Wed., Sept. 6 Thur., Sept. 7 Fri., Sept. 8 Sat., Sept. 9 Sun., Sept. 10 Tues., Sept. 12 Wed., Sept. 13 Thur., Sept. 14 Fri., Sept. 15 Sat., Sept. 16 Sun., Sept. 17 Tues., Sept. 19 Wed., Sept. 20 Thur., Sept. 21 Fri., Sept. 22 Sat., Sept. 23 Sun., Sept. 24 Mon., Sept. 25 Tues., Sept. 26 Wed., Sept. 27 Thur., Sept. 28 Fri., Sept. 29 Sat., Sept. 30 Sun., Oct. 1

vs. Braves vs. Braves vs. Braves at Pirates at Pirates at Pirates at Pirates vs. Brewers vs. Brewers vs. Brewers vs. Mets vs. Mets vs. Mets vs. Cardinals vs. Cardinals vs. Cardinals at Rays at Rays at Brewers at Brewers at Brewers at Brewers at Cardinals at Cardinals at Cardinals at Cardinals vs. Reds vs. Reds vs. Reds

TIME

1:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

TBD 3:05 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

3:05 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

12:05 p.m.

TBD 6:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

6:15 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

3:05 p.m.

2:20 p.m.

TV

WGN CSN TBD ABC CSN WGN CSN WGN CSN ABC CSN WGN ABC ABC FOX TBD CSN WGN CSN+ WGN CSN ABC CSN CSN+ CSN WGN CSN CSN WGN

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS APRIL 2-5

| at St. Louis Cardinals |

There’s no better way to remind your bitter division rival that you’re the World Series champions than opening the season against them. At their park. On national television.

As the favorite to win the title again.

It’s only the first of six series the NL Central foes will play, but both sides will be anxious to set the tone early after the Cubs ran away with the division in 2016.

Chris Sale

JULY 24-27

APRIL 10-13

| vs. Los Angeles Dodgers |

| vs. Chicago White Sox |

Baseball returns to Wrigley Field for the first time since Game 5 of the World Series.

The Cubs will receive their rings and unveil their championship banner in front of what will surely be a raucous crowd on the north side.

After the ceremony, the Cubs open a three-game set against the Dodgers, who had their 2016 campaign ended by the Cubs in the NLCS.

The crosstown rivals are in very different places right now, but that never seems to matter when they square off.

Just look at 2006 as an example. The White Sox (90-72) finished 24 games better than the Cubs (66-96), but one of the most iconic moments of the rivalry took place with Michael Barrett slugging A.J. Pierzynski with a right hook to the jaw.

APRIL 28-30

| at St. Louis Cardinals |

| at Boston Red Sox |

Could this be a World Series preview in the first month of the season?

It’s tough to imagine another series with this much young offensive talent on the field.

And if the stars align, we could potentially see pitching matchups involving Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks against Chris Sale, David Price and Rick Porcello.

SEPTEMBER 25-28

This series in the final week of the season could prove uneventful if the Cubs once again win the NL Central crown in dominant fashion.

On the other hand, if both teams are still in contention for the division title, there will have been few times in this rivalry’s long history where a four-game series meant so much.

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Mon., April 3 Wed., April 5 Thurs., April 6 Fri., April 7 Sat., April 8 Sun., April 9 Tues., April 11 Wed., April 12 Thurs., April 13 Fri., April 14 Sat., April 15 Sun., April 16 Mon., April 17 Tues., April 18 Wed., April 19 Fri., April 21 Sat., April 22 Sun., April 23 Mon., April 24 Tues., April 25 Wed., April 26 Fri., April 28 Sat., April 29 Sun., April 30

OPPONENT

vs. Tigers vs. Tigers vs. Tigers vs. Twins vs. Twins vs. Twins at Indians at Indians at Indians at Twins at Twins at Twins at Yankees at Yankees at Yankees vs. Indians vs. Indians vs. Indians vs. Royals vs. Royals vs. Royals at Tigers at Tigers at Tigers

TIME

3:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

3:10 p.m.

5:10 p.m.

5:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

3:10 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

12:10 p.m.

12:10 p.m.

TV

CSN CSN WGN WGN CSN CSN CSN CSN WGN CSN WGN CSN WGN CSN CSN CSN CSN WGN CSN CSN WGN WGN CSN WGN

MAY DATE

2017 schedule & HIGHLIGHTS

Mon., May 1 Tues., May 2 Wed., May 3 Thurs., May 4 Fri., May 5 Sat., May 6 Sun., May 7

OPPONENT

at Royals at Royals at Royals at Royals at Orioles at Orioles at Orioles

TIME

7:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

1:15 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

6:05 p.m.

12:35 p.m.

TV

CSN WGN CSN+ CSN CSN WGN CSN

Tues., May 9 Wed., May 10 Thurs., May 11 Fri., May 12 Sat., May 13 Sun., May 14 Mon., May 15 Tues., May 16 Wed., May 17 Thurs., May 18 Fri., May 19 Sat., May 20 Sun., May 21 Mon., May 22 Tues., May 23 Wed., May 24 Fri., May 26 Sat., May 27 Sun., May 28 Mon., May 29 Tues., May 30 Wed., May 31

vs. Twins vs. Twins vs. Twins vs. Padres vs. Padres vs. Padres at Angels at Angels at Angels at Mariners at Mariners at Mariners at Mariners at D-backs at D-backs at D-backs vs. Tigers vs. Tigers vs. Tigers vs. Red Sox vs. Red Sox vs. Red Sox

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

9:07 p.m.

9:07 p.m.

9:07 p.m.

9:10 p.m.

9:10 p.m.

9:10 p.m.

3:10 p.m.

8:40 p.m.

8:40 p.m.

2:40 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

CSN WGN CSN CSN WGN CSN CSN WGN CSN CSN WGN CSN CSN CSN WGN CSN CSN CSN WGN WGN CSN CSN

JUNE DATE

OPPONENT

Fri., June 2 Sat., June 3 Sun., June 4 Tues., June 6 Wed., June 7 Thurs., June 8 Fri., June 9 Sat., June 10 Sun., June 11 Mon., June 12 Tues., June 13

at Tigers at Tigers at Tigers at Rays at Rays at Rays at Indians at Indians at Indians vs. Orioles vs. Orioles

TIME

6:10 p.m.

3:10 p.m.

12:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

6:15 p.m.

12:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

TV

WGN CSN CSN WGN CSN CSN WGN FOX CSN WGN CSN

Wed., June 14 Thurs., June 15 Fri., June 16 Sat., June 17 Sun., June 18 Tues., June 20 Wed., June 21 Thurs., June 22 Fri., June 23 Sat., June 24 Sun., June 25 Mon., June 26 Tues., June 27 Wed., June 28 Thurs., June 29 Fri., June 30

vs. Orioles vs. Orioles at Blue Jays at Blue Jays at Blue Jays at Twins at Twins at Twins vs. Athletics vs. Athletics vs. Athletics vs. Yankees vs. Yankees vs. Yankees vs. Yankees vs. Rangers

7:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

6:07 p.m.

12:07 p.m.

12:07 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

12:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

CSN+ CSN CSN CSN WGN WGN CSN CSN CSN CSN WGN CSN CSN+ CSN CSN CSN\

JULY DATE

OPPONENT

Sat., July 1 Sun., July 2 Mon., July 3 Tues., July 4 Wed., July 5 Fri., July 7 Sat., July 8 Sun., July 9 Fri., July 14 Sat., July 15 Sun., July 16 Tues., July 18 Wed., July 19 Fri., July 21 Sat., July 22 Sun., July 23

vs. Rangers vs. Rangers at Athletics at Athletics at Athletics at Rockies at Rockies at Rockies vs. Mariners vs. Mariners vs. Mariners vs. Dodgers vs. Dodgers at Royals at Royals at Royals

TIME

TV

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

8:05 p.m.

3:05 p.m.

2:35 p.m.

7:40 p.m.

8:10 p.m.

2:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

6:15 p.m.

1:15 p.m.

WGN CSN CSN CSN WGN CSN WGN CSN CSN+ WGN CSN WGN CSN CSN WGN CSN

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CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

APRIL DATE

at Cubs at Cubs vs. Cubs vs. Cubs vs. Indians vs. Indians vs. Indians vs. Blue Jays

1:20 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

CSN WGN CSN WGN CSN CSN WGN CSN

AUGUST DATE

Tues., Aug. 1 Wed., Aug. 2 Thurs., Aug. 3 Fri., Aug. 4 Sat., Aug. 5 Sun., Aug. 6 Tues., Aug. 8 Wed., Aug. 9 Thurs., Aug. 10 Fri., Aug. 11 Sat., Aug. 12 Sun., Aug. 13 Tues., Aug. 15 Wed., Aug. 16 Thurs., Aug. 17 Fri., Aug. 18 Sat., Aug. 19 Sun., Aug. 20 Mon., Aug. 21 Tues., Aug. 22 Wed., Aug. 23 Thurs., Aug. 24 Fri., Aug. 25 Sat., Aug. 26 Sun., Aug. 27

OPPONENT

vs. Blue Jays vs. Blue Jays at Red Sox at Red Sox at Red Sox at Red Sox vs. Astros vs. Astros vs. Astros vs. Royals vs. Royals vs. Royals at Dodgers at Dodgers at Rangers at Rangers at Rangers at Rangers vs. Twins vs. Twins vs. Twins vs. Twins vs. Tigers vs. Tigers vs. Tigers

TIME

7:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

12:35 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

9:10 p.m.

9:10 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

7:05 p.m.

2:05 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

TV

WGN CSN CSN CSN CSN WGN WGN CSN CSN WGN CSN WGN WGN CSN CSN+ CSN WGN CSN CSN CSN CSN+ WGN CSN CSN WGN

Tues., Aug. 29 Wed., Aug. 30 Thurs., Aug. 31

at Twins at Twins at Twins

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

12:10 p.m.

CSN WGN CSN

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER DATE

Fri., Sept. 1 Sat., Sept. 2 Sun., Sept. 3 Mon., Sept. 4 Tues., Sept. 5 Wed., Sept. 6 Thurs., Sept. 7 Fri., Sept. 8 Sat., Sept. 9 Sun., Sept. 10 Mon., Sept. 11 Tues., Sept. 12 Wed., Sept. 13 Thurs., Sept. 14 Fri., Sept. 15 Sat., Sept. 16 Sun., Sept. 17 Tues., Sept. 19 Wed., Sept. 20 Thurs., Sept. 21 Fri., Sept. 22 Sat., Sept. 23 Sun., Sept. 24 Mon., Sept. 25 Tues., Sept. 26 Wed., Sept. 27 Thurs., Sept. 28 Fri., Sept. 29 Sat., Sept. 30 Sun., Oct. 1

OPPONENT

vs. Rays vs. Rays vs. Rays vs. Indians vs. Indians vs. Indians vs. Indians vs. Giants vs. Giants vs. Giants at Royals at Royals at Royals at Tigers at Tigers at Tigers at Tigers at Astros at Astros at Astros vs. Royals vs. Royals vs. Royals vs. Angels vs. Angels vs. Angels vs. Angels at Indians at Indians at Indians

TIME

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

1:15 p.m.

12:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

5:10 p.m.

12:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

1:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

7:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

6:10 p.m.

2:10 p.m.

TV

CSN CSN WGN WGN CSN+ CSN WGN CSN WGN CSN CSN WGN CSN CSN CSN CSN WGN WGN CSN CSN CSN WGN CSN CSN+ CSN WGN CSN CSN WGN CSN

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS APRIL 3-6

| vs. Detroit Tigers |

Opening Day might not have the same charm with Vegas projecting the White Sox to win just 70 games, but it marks the start of a new era on the south side.

Not only is it Jose Quintana’s first and likely last Opening Day start in a White Sox uniform, but the first series will serve as a benchmark for how much the organization’s outlook has changed by season’s end.

Mark Buehrle

APRIL 24-26

JULY 24-27

| vs. Kansas City Royals |

| vs. Chicago Cubs |

Things have gotten a bit chippy at times when the White Sox and Royals have met in recent seasons.

Kansas City pitcher Yordano Ventura was a major instigator in the AL Central rivalry, but the tenor is likely to be much different when the teams meet for the first time since Ventura was killed in a car accident in his native country of the Dominican Republic.

It’s hard to imagine the White Sox will be too focused on the Crosstown Classic with the trade deadline only a week away.

With that being said, the rivalry series is known for producing surprise moments. And with the White Sox seemingly resigned to a losing season, taking a few from the Cubs would provide fans a bit of relief.

JUNE 23-25

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 1

A series between two of the worst teams in the American League doesn’t provide much intrigue. At least not until Mark Buehrle gets involved.

The White Sox will retire the lefty’s number before the June 24 game, and the celebration should bring fans and former teammates out to Guaranteed Rate Field all weekend.

While many of the White Sox’s top prospects won’t start 2017 in the majors, several should reach Chicago by season’s end.

And at the conclusion of a long season, getting to see how Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito and others fare against the defending American League champions would be a good way to enter the second offseason of the rebuild.

| vs. Oakland Athletics |

| at Cleveland Indians |

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CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

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Rozner: Joe, there are a million reasons to pick the Cubs to win the World Series again. There are so many guys who can actually be better than they were last year. Plus, they add Schwarber, who didn’t even play last year, and he could hit 40 home runs. But history says they will not repeat.

Of course, the Cubs are no longer scared of history.

Ostrowski: We haven’t seen a repeat champ in the past 16 years. Over that span, only the 2009 Phillies made it back to the World Series after winning it.

Fowler was missed when he was gone for a month with an injury. But now Schwarber is back. We don’t even really know what he can do.

He hasn’t even played half a season yet. But we did see Schwarber go from a torn ACL rehab to the World Series and hit some of the best pitching going.

Rozner: If forced to pick between the Cubs and the field, I’ll take the field. Between the Dodgers, Giants, Mets, and Nationals, there are alot of good teams taking aim at the Cubs. The Cubs are still the best team on paper. I have no reason to pick against them except that nobody repeats anymore.

Ostrowski: I’ll also take the field. The Cubs don’t have a weakness going into the year. But they’ve had back-to-back long seasons with a healthy starting rotation. I’m not worried about veterans like Lester and Lackey. Lester has at least 31 starts the past 9 years and Lackey has averaged over 30 starts the past 13 seasons he’s pitched. But if you include the playoffs, Arrieta and Hendricks have combined for 140 starts the past two seasons.

At some point, this will

Sorting through baseball’s true contenders NATE ATKINS BARRY ROZNER

PATRICK FINLEY JOE OSTROWSKI

Jon Lester

catch up to them.

Rozner: If it’s not the Cubs, I think there are two really good teams in the National League that could contend for the pennant. I think the Dodgers probably have the best team one through 25 not named the Cubs. But there is no team in baseball that can compete with the Mets’ rotation if those guys stay healthy.

That’s a very, very scary team if those young starters stay healthy.

Ostrowski: We seem to always forget about the Nationals. They aren’t a perfect team, but they’re as good as anyone in the NL. Washington won 95 games in a year in which Bryce Harper no longer looked like the 2015

Bryce Harper

MVP. He’ll bounce back.

They traded for Adam Eaton, one of the best defensive outfielders last year, but he’s back in center field.

Trea Turner finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting and this will be his first full season. The problems: they don’t have a closer; Stephen Strasburg has thrown 200 innings only once in his 7 seasons; and there’s Dusty Baker.

Rozner: The other team you should never overlook is the Giants. If the Giants get in, they’re always a frightening postseason opponent.

Ostrowski: Those are the five teams on my list of NL contenders. With two from the East and West divisions,

the Central looks to be another cakewalk for the Cubs.

Rozner: The White Sox had a great offseason. They obviously have much more they want to do. They are stockpiling young pitchers and should have a lot to choose from for the rotation over the next few years. I’m sure GM Rick Hahn would like to add position players in his next big deal if he can. It’s going to be a rough couple years on the South Side, but you have to be encouraged by the start of this rebuild.

Ostrowski: Even though we won’t be able to avoid the comparisons of the Cubs and Sox rebuilds, they are very different. The Sale and Eaton trades were a great

way to jump-start their new plan and get fans to buy in with all the new talent added to the organization. The changes are exciting and there is no longer any confusion about the path the Sox are taking and who is in charge.

Rozner: You’re right about the buy-in. Let’s hope White Sox fans show patience because this could get pretty ugly once they finish making deals.

Ostrowski: Sox fans should hope it gets pretty ugly. Another high draft pick would be great for the long-term focus. And 2017 is all about guys such as Moncada, Anderson, Rodon, Giolito, Kopech, Lopez, Fulmer, Collins, and Burdi.

Rozner: Like the Cubs, the Indians have a very easy path to the postseason. That’s a big advantage. Obviously, the Red Sox are a huge contender. I will like the Astros a lot once they add a starting pitcher. I’m surprised no one is talking about the Blue Jays. Even with the guys they lost, I think Toronto can be very good.

Ostrowski: The minute Boston traded for Sale, they became the clear AL favorite. But Cleveland is right there. The Indians didn’t have Carrasco, a fully healthy Salazar, Encarnacion, or Brantley and they lost the World Series in an extra-inning Game 7. Houston’s lineup is scary good.

But even if they add a top starting pitcher, they don’t have enough pitching for the playoffs.

Rozner: I’m exhausted by the pace-of-play conversation. When the games are good, baseball fans don’t care. Make the games good and affordable and nobody talks about pace of play.

Ostrowski: Even though you think Rob Manfred is the worst commissioner of all time, taking a look at the long-term health of the game in a changing world is a healthy conversation. It’s just not healthy for you because some of these foolish ideas are going to give you a heart attack.

Catch Barry Rozner and Joe Ostrowski throughout the season on their “Hit & Run” baseball show each Sunday morning from 9 a.m. to noon on WSCR 670-AM. Follow Barry and Joe on Twitter@HitAndRun670, @barryrozner and @joeO670.

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

I

n a Chicago baseball edition of ‘Take 2,’ Barry Rozner of the Daily Herald and Joe Ostrowski of WSCR 670 The Score give their thoughts on this year’s Major League Baseball season.

CHICAGO BASEBALL | 2017 Season Preview | THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2017

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