May 5, 2016 Chicago Tribune Do zany suits help Cubs? As long as they win, who cares? By Paul Sullivan For a century of so the Cubs have come up with novel ways to try to win that elusive championship. In the early-to-mid-1960s owner P.K. Wrigley hired an athletic director, had a revolving college of coaches manage the team and acquired pitcher Bill Faul who hypnotized himself before taking the mound with what he called a "twilight trance." In the early 2000s, first baseman Julio Zuleta burned bats in the clubhouse, manager Don Baylor outlawed card playing and hired fitness guru Mack Newton who actually diagrammed a formula for success that read: "(natural ability) + (experience) x (attitude) = permanent peak performance." In September 2003, manager Dusty Baker, who comes to town Thursday with the Nationals, sprinkled magic dust on the field before a crucial series with the Cardinals. Current manager Joe Maddon upped the ante this spring with mimes, karaoke and a Cheech and Chong van, before introducing the "zany minimalist" suit trip to Pittsburgh this week. The Cubs wound up with a sweep of the Pirates after Wednesday's 6-2 victory before everyone dressed up in their loud outfits for the flight back home. If Maddon wanted to follow Newton's law, his formula might read: (natural ability) + (zany fashion wear) x (self-effacing humor) = permanent relaxed performance." Do the zany minimalist suits actually help Cubs players relax, or is it overstated? "It's not overstated," Maddon said. "I think there's also a certain amount of risk-taking. For me, it doesn't bother me to walk into a crowd anywhere with a tulip suit on. But there are a lot of people it would bother and I want them to get beyond that moment because it really means nothing. "It's pigment. It's different colors. It's (a) design. It has nothing to do with who you are at all. So get over it. And I really believe it benefits you out here (on the field). I do. I believe the fact you're not concerned about superficial nonsense, it permits you to focus and play your game better." Whether Maddon's methods are any crazier than the ones Wrigley, Faul, Zuleta, Newton, Baylor or Baker used is debatable. But as long as the Cubs keep winning, who really cares? As it turned out, Dexter Fowler looked most comfortable in his hot pink shorts. Jake Arrieta strutted in his leopard print pants. Anthony Rizzo proclaimed himself "hot" in a star-spangled blazer with no shirt and red shorts and President Theo Epstein resembled Chris Farley's Matt Foley, motivational speaker, in his blue plaid jacket. Maddon collected $300 in fines from three players who were caught outside the ballpark not wearing at least part of their get-up, and gave the money to the equipment managers. The players only had to wear a tie to get around the fine. Maddon, wearing a tulip print jacket Wednesday morning, ran into catcher David Ross, wearing shorts, a T-shirt and a red tie, while getting coffee.

"As he passed, we giggled," Maddon said. "I was in full guerrilla." So why the loophole? Why not make everyone go "full guerrilla" the whole trip? "It was actually selfish," Maddon said. "I didn't want to put my (tulip) suit on every time I walked out the door. … It made it somewhat easier to get by, but there's kind of a respect about (the rule), even if it's just (wearing) the tie, even if it's the jacket. It has been kind of fun." Maddon, channeling his inner hippie, said he doesn't care about tattoos, long hair or any other thing a person does to show some individuality. As they said in the late '60s, let your freak flag fly. "Diversity is interesting, and it makes everything a lot more fun," he said. "So when it comes down to methods of dress, style of hair, whatever, bring it on, man. I think it makes the world a better place." Can the Cubs make the world a better place by wearing zany suits? Worth a shot. -- Chicago Tribune Las Vegas' own Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper 'bound by common passion' By David Haugh Just 10 at the time, Kris Bryant stepped to the plate to see how his technically-sound swing would hold up against 13-year-old pitching. Matt Lawrence remembers scouting Bryant at the ballpark that day in Las Vegas for the parochial high school he once coached. How could Lawrence ever forget a 300-foot drive exploding off the bat of a 10-year-old? "It was astonishing the power he generated from that swing he worked on so much with his dad," recalled Lawrence, Bryant's first coach after his father, Mike. "You could tell then Kris was special." Lawrence never imagined seeing anything as impressive from a youth hitter until, two years later, he coached a 12-year-old named Bryce Harper. One day in the middle of an interview with a local reporter at practice, Lawrence lost his train of thought. "I stopped mid-sentence because Bryce hit a ball to right-center field with a wood bat that was easily 375 feet," Lawrence said. "The reporter asked, 'What's wrong?' I said, 'See that? You could put that kid in a group of hitters at Dodger Stadium and the sound off his bat would be different than some of those guys.' And it really was." No tale is too tall about Bryant and Harper, both sons of Sin City with dads who drove them to baseball superstardom. What happens in Vegas doesn't need to stay there when describing the origins of greatness. The memories keep flooding back to Lawrence as Harper's Nationals prepare to play Bryant's Cubs. Is a Cubs-Nationals series in May worth the hype? That's a clown question, bro. The reigning National League most valuable player, Harper criticized baseball's lack of free expression in ESPN Magazine and called the game "tired" — but there will be nothing sleepy about this series. The four-game set starting Thursday at Wrigley Field between the major leagues' two best teams provides a potential early glimpse of October. To Lawrence, it offers the latest chance to reflect how fortunate he was to have coached future phenoms Bryant and Harper, teammates for a season on the Southern Nevada Bulldogs. Bryant, the NL rookie of the year in 2015, was 14. Harper, nine months younger, was 13.

"The real question is how did I ever lose a game with both those guys?" said Lawrence, 47, now a health care executive in Los Angeles. "We had 12 kids on a travel team and Bryce and Kris were the elite of that group. I'm not into rankings, but we were third nationally." The Bulldogs were so good, they competed in a high school fall league and finished above .500 despite not having a player older than 14. After beating one of the city's better high school teams, a game in which Bryant and Harper homered and Bryant pitched a shutout, the losers refused to shake hands. The kids asked their coach why. "I said, 'You are going to walk out of the park, grab some ice cream and ride home with your parents (and) that team is going to drive themselves home and have to explain to friends, family and girlfriends how they got beat by a group of middle-school kids," Lawrence said. Except that Harper and Bryant were anything but ordinary middle-school kids. Their rare talent always set the athletes apart and, in an odd way, brought them closer together. They were peers more than rivals as Bryant went to Bonanza High and Harper attended Las Vegas High. When they played each other in 2008, Harper's team saw its 25-game winning streak end after a walk-off double by a Bryant — Kris' brother, Nick. Calling Harper and Bryant buddies, even now, would be overstating it based on those who know both guys, but a deep respect and ability to relate to one another's shared experiences connect them as much as geography. "The connection between them is real because they dealt with the same kind of jealousy, which creates a natural bond," Lawrence said. "They're both really good 'kids'. Bryce is a really great guy, but he's just edgy. Kris is what he seems, the All-American kid every dad wants their daughter to marry. But he is every bit as competitive as Bryce, it's just more inward. They're bound by their common passion." A shared pride in their hometown also binds them. It was on public display last December when Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman presented Harper and Bryant keys to the city for "representing our community with integrity, hard work … and good genes." Bryant grabbed the microphone before Harper and cracked, "Elders first." Harper thanked his high school coach for "keeping me in class." A sea of fans decked out in Nationals and Cubs gear laughed. "I see a lot of red over the blue," Harper kidded the crowd. Proud of both former players, Lawrence bleeds Cubbie blue. A lifelong Cubs fan whose father, Mike, was former Gov. Jim Edgar's press secretary, Lawrence used watching Bryant and his favorite boyhood team as motivation last year while convalescing after the removal of a kidney with a malignant tumor. "I never told Kris until he came to L.A. in August that he and the Cubs were such a key part of my recovery," Lawrence said. "It's so much fun watching somebody you've known since he was 10." This weekend for Lawrence, that goes double. -- Chicago Tribune Luck starting to point in Anthony Rizzo's favor By Mark Gonzales Cubs manager Joe Maddon anticipated that Anthony Rizzo was due to break out of a slump in late April, merely because he continued to hit the ball with authority despite hitting below .200. Rizzo opened his batting stance under the suggestion of assistant hitting coach Eric Hinske that has worked out well, but Maddon believes Rizzo’s fortunes eventually would improve.

That’s been the case in the past 2 ½ weeks, as Rizzo went 7-for-14 with five doubles to help lead the Chicago Cubs to a three-game sweep at Pittsburgh. “Part of it is he had to have better luck,” said Maddon, referring to Rizzo once possessing a low batting average on balls put in play. “A lot of guys hit the ball well without the requisite luck that you’d think you would get by hitting it so hard. Rizzo went 3-for-5 with a double and home run in Wednesday’s 6-2 win, but not all the luck has swayed in his favor. With two out in the third, Rizzo ripped a line drive to center field. All-Star Andrew McCutchen charged in and tried to make a sliding catch, only for the ball to sail out of his glove as he landed. Despite leaving his feet in an attempt to make the catch, McCutchen was charged with an error by official scorer Tony Krizmanich. Rizzo was deprived of a hit, but Ben Zobrist followed with a three-run home run on the next pitch to give the Cubs a lead they never relinquished. Maddon said the error “needs to be changed. That’s inappropriate.” Nevertheless, Rizzo’s batting average has climbed from .163 to .260 in his past 12 games. -- Chicago Tribune Javier Baez balances glove with bat By Mark Gonzales Javier Baez collected the fourth three-hit game of his career Wednesday, but it was a grounder to second that resulted in a force play that impressed veteran David Ross as much as any of his hits. “I’m super impressed,” Ross said after Baez made a conscious effort to hit the ball the other way instead of trying to pull the ball – a habit that often resulted in a strikeout or double play. Baez’s force play resulted in the Chicago Cubs scoring an insurance run in the ninth inning of their 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates that completed their first three-game sweep at PNC Park since 2012. The Cubs, without Jason Heyward or Miguel Montero, continue to roll at an amazing pace thanks to contributions from their reserve players like Baez. “Javy continues to play a different level of baseball,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I’m talking about the whole game. He’s so mentally aware of the situation that’s it’s fun to watch.” Baez’s batting average climbed to .341, an impressive mark considering his playing time has been infrequent. But Maddon has found ways to insert his versatile 23-year-old star who was once regarded as the top prospect in the organization before Kris Bryant came along and Baez struggled with plate discipline. “He lengthens our lineup,” winning pitcher Jon Lester said after Baez drove in two runs. “Not only is he a guy who can play the heck of an infield (defense), but he gives you another guy at the bottom end of the lineup who has some thump.” Baez made his second consecutive start at third and played flawlessly, albeit without the degree of difficulty that he performed Tuesday night. “Nevertheless, his defense is some of the best I’ve ever seen,” Ross said.

Perhaps Lester gave Baez the highest compliment by comparing him to Ben Zobrist, who emerged as a valuable mainstay because of his ability to play several positions at a high level. Baez started to learn to play the outfield last December in Puerto Rico. “He’s done a great job of adjusting to those positions,” Lester said. “You can’t tell if he’s in outfield or playing short or third. It’s nice.” -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' Jon Lester makes most out of sticky situation By Mark Gonzales Jon Lester made sure he wouldn't commit an error despite an equipment issue. Lester, whose fielding woes have been well-documented since he joined the Cubs, made the most of a sticky situation Wednesday when he fielded a Francisco Cervelli grounder and discovered the ball was stuck in his glove in the second inning. Lester took several steps before tossing his glove to first base, where Anthony Rizzo caught the glove with the ball lodged in it. "I feel like I've done a good job of keeping care of my glove and making sure it doesn't have any holes or loose, and of course it finds a hole," Lester said. "Obviously, it's not ideal. You never want to throw your glove with the ball. Too many things can happen. But an out is an out." Fit to a T: The challenge for manager Joe Maddon is to send a meaningful message that his players will absorb on a daily basis. And that task never stops, even as Maddon — a connoisseur of T-shirts — expands his collection. "The more you put it out there, there's a conscious effort to get your message across," Maddon said. Since revealing his "Embrace the Target" slogan shortly after the signing of free agent Ben Zobrist in December, Maddon hasn't stopped his array of messages on T-shirts that his players wear and are available to the public. "I've always liked messages on T-shirts," said Maddon, who soon will unveil a new model with the words "If You Look Hot, Wear It." "I like to wear T-shirts. To me, it has been a good way of getting your message out there in a subliminal way. Maybe it will stick, even to the 'hard core' who doesn't believe it. Maybe in a weak moment I'll get him with the thought." Maddon's first slogan, "Every Day Counts," was sported on T-shirts during his days as a minor-league instructor with the Angels in the 1980s. Maddon said he tried to press upon his coaches to keep working with players, no matter how talent-challenged, in hopes they could transform their fortunes." Maddon said a tie-dye version of his "Try Not To Suck" T-shirts will be available later this month. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs savor sweep of Pirates, await challenge against Nationals By Mark Gonzales After completing a three-game sweep at PNC Park, the Cubs collectively enjoyed their latest conquest while putting on their goofy suits and briefly putting off some deep thoughts about their next challenge.

Behind a 12-hit attack and 5 2/3 shutout innings from Jon Lester, the Cubs soundly beat the Pirates 6-2 before heading home Wednesday night for a four-game series against the National League East-leading Nationals. But they took some time to savor the sweep gained an array of contributions despite the absence of right fielder Jason Heyward (sore right wrist). "We're super happy to come in here and beat up on our division against a second place team and separate ourselves a little bit," catcher David Ross said. "But the approach is day-to-day. We'll enjoy it and think about Washington on (Thursday). It's business as usual." The Cubs return home for a 10-game homestand with the momentum of a 20-6 record — their best start since the 1907 team started 22-4. Lester was sharp enough for them to win for the 22nd time in their last 25 regular-season road games dating back to September. And they did it with a balanced offense thanks to some timely hitting from Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist and Javier Baez. "Even though we only won by four (Wednesday), it felt like more than that," Zobrist said. Rizzo is batting .419 (13-for-31) during his eight-game hitting streak that started after he opened up his stance. Rizzo had five doubles in the series and increased his RBI total to 27 with his ninth home run Wednesday. "Opening up his stance has freed up his hands," manager Joe Maddon said. After All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen was charged with an error when he failed to make a sliding catch on a two-out Rizzo line drive, Zobrist smacked a three-run homer for a 3-0 lead in the third. Baez had three hits, including a RBI double in the fifth. "To be able to (win) without (Heyward) shows the depth of our team," Lester said. "I don't want to sound cliche, but we try to focus on today and worry about today. "We've minimized damage when we've lost games. We'll worry about the Nationals when we get home and start preparing. We know what kind of lineup they possess and what kind of pitching staff they have. We know it's going to be a task." The Cubs declined to escalate a spat after Sean Rodriguez took exception to reliever Pedro Strop quick-pitching him in the eighth. Strop struck out Rodriguez and the two exchanged glares and words from a distance. "That stuff is over with," Ross said. "We're here to play baseball. We're here to win. Our play speaks for itself." The Nationals' visit marks the return of former Cubs manager Dusty Baker and the spotlight on Las Vegas natives Bryce Harper of the Nationals and Kris Bryant of the Cubs, who each were given a key to the city after their award-winning 2015 seasons. "It means a lot to both of us," Bryant said. "It's special when they honor you. But it's (better) when you do fun things as a team and you're successful. That's where both of us are in our careers (with out) teams." -- Chicago Tribune Wednesday's recap: Cubs 6, Pirates 2 By Mark Gonzales The Cubs completed their first three-game sweep at PNC Park since Sept. 7-9, 2012, as John Lester threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings Wednesday, and Ben Zobrist ripped a three-run home run to pace a 6-2 victory over the Pirates.

At the plate Javier Baez rebounded from his 0-for-5 performance Tuesday with three hits, including an RBI double in the fifth. Anthony Rizzo went 7-for-14 in the series, and he hit his ninth home run in the seventh. On the mound Lester loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth but struck out Gregory Polanco to complete his escape act. Lester changed speeds effectively to work out of jams in the fourth and fifth. In the field Lester fielded a grounder by Francisco Cervelli, but the ball stuck in the webbing of his glove. Lester took several steps toward first before tossing his glove to Rizzo for the out. Catcher David Ross picked Sean Rodriguez off first base in the second. Key number 14 – Innings pitched by the Pirates’ starters in this three-game series. The quote “It’s good to get a feel for the rest of the division in spite of the fact we got injuries.” – Joe Maddon Up next vs. Nationals at Wrigley Field, 7:05 p.m., CSN -- Chicago Tribune Jake Arrieta, Mordecai 'Three Finger' Brown and the farming accident By Tim Bannon With his victory against the Pirates on Tuesday night, Jake Arrieta improved to 6-0, becoming the first Cubs pitcher since Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown to win his first six starts of the season. Brown did it in 1908 and went on to win his first 11. But who was “Three Finger” Brown, and what happened to his other fingers? Brown was born in 1875 on the family farm in Nyesville, Ind. When he was 5 or 7 (accounts vary), one of his brothers dared him to put his right hand into a corn chopper. He did and lost most of his right index finger and damaged his right middle finger. Weeks later, he fell and mangled the little finger on the same hand. According to the Society for American Baseball Research, "Brown's deformed hand enabled him to throw a bewildering pitch with lots of movement. Although the jumping ball was a problem when Brown was an infielder, it was an advantage when he pitched." “It was a great ball, that downward curve of his,” Ty Cobb once said. “I can’t talk about all of baseball, but I can say this: It was the most deceiving, the most devastating pitch I ever faced.”

Brown pitched in the majors from 1903 to 1916, including a nine-year stretch with the Cubs. He won at least 20 games each season from 1907-11, including a career-best 29-9 (with a 1.31 ERA) in 1909. Brown died in 1948 at 71. In his obituary, the Tribune described "the three-fingered right hand that could knock a fly off a toothpick with a curve ball." Brown was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1949. He is buried at Roselawn Memorial Park in Terre Haute, Ind. -- Chicago Tribune Jason Heyward's return to Cubs lineup remains on hold By Mark Gonzales With the Cubs entering Wednesday with a five-game lead in the National League Central, manager Joe Maddon was content to give right fielder Jason Heyward another day to rest his sore right wrist. "There's no reason to push it," Maddon said as Heyward missed his third consecutive game when the Cubs played the Pirates in the finale of a three-game series at PNC Park. Maddon said he contemplated using Heyward as a defensive replacement or pinch-runner in the eighth inning Tuesday against the Pirates but instead used Ryan Kalish. Maddon said he would evaluate Heyward's progress before deciding whether to start him Thursday night against the Washington Nationals and Joe Ross at Wrigley Field. "Let’s not push it right now and make sure he’s feeling pretty good about himself," Maddon said. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs rolling, but front office not done trying to improve roster By Gordon Wittenmyer PITTSBURGH – Go ahead, take your best shot. Try to nit-pick a weakness worth addressing on the fastest-starting Cubs team in 109 years. That’s what team president Theo Epstein and his front office are doing these days, even with the Cubs setting the pace in the majors with a 20-6 record and major-league leading totals in runs scored, fewest allowed, team ERA, walks drawn, disco-ball parties, zany dress-up days and F-bombs in Pittsburgh. “I think we’ve played really well, and we’re happy with the record that we have,” Epstein said. “But I don’t think we’ve completely locked in yet, or clicked in all facets of the game.” Jorge Soler’s slumping bat and clumsy fielding? Trevor Cahill’s recent struggles out of the bullpen? Pedro Strop’s strange fascination with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? There isn’t much – especially after the Cubs finished off a statement-worthy sweep of the playoff-minded Pirates with Wednesday’s 6-2 victory on the strength of home runs by Ben Zobrist and Anthony Rizzo. “Our pitching staff’s really been carrying us, been the most consistent part of our team,” said Epstein, who retooled a 97-win team with a $290 million winter – and who keeps looking for more. “As it warms up here, I think the bats will get going, and they’ll probably carry us for a while. “But as far as needs that we might have or ways that we can get better, we’re always assessing that, and there’s lots of different ways that we could potentially improve the club before the end of the season.”

-- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs dominant in decisive sweep of rival Pirates By Gordon Wittenmyer PITTSBURGH – A few hours before Wednesday’s game, as Maddon met with media in the dugout a stadium worker picked that moment to start sweeping the dugout, raising dust around the group. Eventually, he was asked to stop. The Cubs took it from there. Their three-game sweep of the division-rival Pirates that looked unlikely when the week started looked decisive by the time they were done outscoring the Pirates 20-5 over three days. The numbers: –The Cubs trailed the first two innings of the series (1-0 on Andrew McCutchen’s first-inning homer Monday) and not again for the remaining 25. — They failed to reach base in only four of 27 innings. — Pirates starters needed 300 innings to pitch a combined 14 innings, none of them lasting more than five. That included Juan Nicasio making it just 4 1/3 innings on Wednesday (102 pitches). –Cubs starters, meanwhile, allowed just two runs in 17 2/3 innings, none during Jon Lester’s 5 1/3-inning start Wednesday during which he pulled two Houdini acts to escape a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the fourth and a first-and-third, one-out threat in the fifth. “We’ve done a good job so far,” said Lester, who was not willing to suggest an upper hand in the NL Central, despite the Cubs’ 13-2 division record – 5-1 against St. Louis and Pittsburgh. “We know what we’re up against in this division,” he said. “That’s a good ballclub. The Cardinals are a good ballclub. And we know we have to go through those two teams to get where we want to go.” Heyward back Thursday? A monthlong issue with a sore right wrist kept right-fielder Jason Heyward sidelined for a third consecutive game Wednesday, but the Cubs aren’t considering the disabled list. “That’s still my impression,” said manager Joe Maddon, who had second baseman Zobrist make his first outfield start of the season, in right. “We’ve been going fine, played a couple of nice games here. No reason to push it.” Maddon said after the game Heyward had made “good progress,” and that he planned to draw up two lineups for Thursday and then check on Heyward’s status before deciding which to use. --

Chicago Sun-Times Love or hate them, Harper, Cubs lead baseball’s changing culture By Gordon Wittenmyer PITTSBURGH – It’s more than just an early litmus test for two division leaders. When the Cubs and Washington Nationals face off at Wrigley Field the next four days, the showcase might be as much about targets, bat flips, mimes and evolving attitudes in an American pastime entrenched in its hegemonic, conservative culture for more than a century. Starting Thursday night at Wrigley Field, it’s brash, flamboyant Bryce Harper’s Nationals against Joe Maddon’s Embrace-the-Target Cubs, whose youthful core isn’t afraid to party in April like it’s October or spend all three days in Pittsburgh this week wearing neon-colored, psychedelic costumes from their latest theme-wear road trip. “Baseball’s so monotonous you’ve got to do stuff like dress up like this and have fun on the field,” said last year’s Rookie of the Year, Kris Bryant, whose baseball origins overlapped briefly with Harper in their Las Vegas hometown. “And we’re embracing it, and everybody in this clubhouse has a different personality and it shows out there. “And then you look at Bryce,” he added. “Some people might not like his personality, but that’s who he is and that’s who he’s going to be. He’s not going to change for anybody, and to an extent you have to respect who he is.” Goose Gossage be damned. Gossage, the Hall of Fame closer from a generation ago, made headlines this spring when he blasted changes in the game, including today’s younger players with their penchant for bat flips – at one point singling out Harper for disrespecting the game. That’s missing the point say people who know him, including some Cubs. “I’ll tell you right now that he definitely does respect the game,” says Cubs ace Jake Arrieta, whose own success has made him a target of steroid speculation and rival fans on Twitter – whom he often engages. “Harper gets a lot of sh—for the way he goes about himself, but he’s passionate,” Arrieta said. “He’s arguably the best player in the game. He wants to enjoy himself too. And there’s nothing wrong with that.” This is where Harper speaks the young Cubs’ language. Harper, the National League’s reigning MVP at 23, might be baseball’s most outspoken player for the need for change from baseball’s staid, stoic past as it increasingly loses the interest of young sports fans. He’s also the MLB player people most love to hate. “I think often the greats of the game are under a microscope,” Bryant said. “And he’s definitely one of them. He definitely gets kind of misunderstood.” These days the Cubs know how he feels – this happy, dancing, pranking group of sudden achievers, who have begun to draw scorn from rival clubhouses, team officials and fans on social media. “If people misinterpret it, honestly, that’s their fault,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said during spring training of the target the Cubs seem at times to be enlarging as much as embracing with well publicized karaoke, zoo-animal and mime shows. It’s no surprise that Maddon – the hippest sexagenarian in the game – likes the way the hard-charging, emotional Harper plays and conducts himself.

“I have no problem with a guy enjoying playing the game,” Maddon said. “He’s got a lot of respect for the game and his place in the game. But anytime a guy plays hard, you always appreciate that. And that’s what I see with him.” If anything they might be kindred spirits. If Harper is the player people most love to hate, the Cubs are becoming the team version, with their unconventional team demeanor, slogan T-shirts, postgame party room off their clubhouse and ebullient, non-traditional manager. But nobody can say it’s not working. Harper is a three-time All-Star with an MVP award, who leads the first-place Nationals into town. And the baseball scofflaw Cubs have the best record in the game. And corporate America recognizes it. Harper’s new 10-year extension with Under Armour reportedly is the largest endorsement deal for a major-league player in history. Whether Gossage and his brethren like it or not, the younger-is-better trend in baseball might finally be forcing a cultural sea change a century in the making. “Here’s the thing: Harper likes to excite the fans,” Arrieta said. “And that’s one of the biggest aspects of what we do – to present something to the fans that make them want to come back and watch, time after time. That’s what he does.” That’s what the game has needed for decades, Maddon often preaches. That’s why the zany-suit or pajama trips aren’t going away anytime soon on the North Side, and why Simon the Magician is staying in the Cubs’ iPhone connections. “I do love diversity,” Maddon said. “It’s interesting. And it really makes everything a lot more fun. So when it comes down to methods of dress, style of hair, whatever, bring it on, man. I think it makes the world a better place.” -- Chicago Sun-Times Day games, sun and warmth finally on their way to Wrigley Field By Rick Morrissey Two of the most beautiful words known to man: day baseball. When the Cubs and the Nationals face off for a four-game series at Wrigley Field starting Thursday, three of the games will be played in actual daylight. Daylight is that period of the 24-hour cycle in which the sun is out. The sun is the orange orb that sometimes shows itself in the sky. The orange orb might actually pump the temperature above 70. After Thursday’s 7:05 p.m. start, the next three games begin at 1:20 p.m., 3:05 p.m. and 1:20 p.m., respectively. That’s not unusual. The Cubs often play during the day on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays when they’re at home. The difference is that we have moved into May, which is a much more congenial month weather-wise than April is. April is unsure how it feels about Chicago, and the feeling is mutual. Warmth is on its way. Friday’s high is predicted to be 79. Now it feels like baseball season.

Ten of the Cubs’ 15 home games this month are day games. The White Sox play five of their 15 May games during the day. Major-league players generally don’t like day games. Their body clocks are set for night games, and Cubs players have complained for years that they are at a competitive disadvantage by playing so many day games at Wrigley Field. To which I say: Tough. Playing baseball during the day at Wrigley is special. Whatever you think of the aging facility and its ongoing rehab, it’s hard to argue that sitting in a seat and beholding the field, the ivy and the scoreboard isn’t the beginning of a religious experience. The players should get on board. During his introductory press conference, Cubs president Theo Epstein said baseball is better during the day. It was like an Alabama politician saying his favorite color is crimson red, but it was also very true. Seeing a baseball under natural light is better. Day baseball is here, so is the warmth. Don’t forget sunscreen. -- Chicago Sun-Times The Nationals should be a challenge for the Cubs — should be By Rick Morrissey We erect barriers as a challenge, and the Cubs regard them as if they were made of straw. Regard them with a smirk. Sure, we said, you can fill up on the empty calories provided by the Reds and the Brewers, but what about the Cardinals, who stack winning seasons like plastic beer cups? The Cubs won two of three in St. Louis last month. What about the feisty Pirates, who won 98 games last season to the Cubs’ 97? The Cubs just swept the three-game series in Pittsburgh by a combined score of 20-5. OK, what about the Nationals, who have the second-best record in the National League? The two teams open a four-game series Thursday at Wrigley Field, and surely, this will be the team that finally gives the Cubs a challenge. Right? Maybe. Possibly. But don’t quote me. Every time we put a measuring stick next to the Cubs, it seems to come up to their shin. On paper, at least, this one figures to be a lot taller. The Nationals were 18-8 heading into their game Wednesday in Kansas City. They have Max Scherzer, Bryce Harper and a bunch of talented players. Their manager is former Cubs skipper Dusty Baker, who will enjoy coming back to Wrigley with a good team. Washington has all sorts of reasons to want to beat the Cubs, the biggest being that the Cubs have the best record in baseball and are, by almost any measure, the best team in baseball. They haven’t lost two games in a row this season and have lost just one series, to Colorado. They’re the measuring stick for everybody else. The Cubs won’t have to face Stephen Strasburg, who is off to a hot start. The Nationals will have to face Jake Arrieta, who is off to the Hall of Fame the way he’s going.

The Cubs have played a lot of poor to middling teams so far, and that’s not going to stop this season. There are teams that don’t want to win, hoping to draft higher (sound familiar?), and there are others that are bad for no other reason than they’re bad. But records look worse after running into the Cubs. And now come the Nationals, who should be a challenge. Should be. -- Cubs.com HRs back Lester in Cubs' sweeping victory By Adam Berry and George Von Benko PITTSBURGH -- Already off to their best start in more than 100 years, the Cubs further cemented their status as the National League Central's team to beat on Wednesday, finishing a three-game sweep of the Pirates with a 6-2 win at PNC Park. Lefty Jon Lester worked out of two jams to hold the Pirates scoreless for 5 2/3 innings and displayed some nifty glove work, Ben Zobrist ripped a three-run homer and the Cubs improved to 20-6 on the year, six games ahead of the second-place Pirates. Pittsburgh has lost four in a row, and the Bucs' starting pitching continued to struggle in Wednesday's series finale. "We got out-executed across the board the last three days," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. Coming off a strong seven-inning start, Pirates right-hander Juan Nicasio plodded through 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on eight hits and three walks. Andrew McCutchen committed a crucial error, losing control of an Anthony Rizzo line drive, before Zobrist's second homer of the season, a three-run shot in the third inning. "I feel like we constantly put pressure on the other team," Cubs catcher David Ross said. "I don't think we're waiting for our break, obviously that's what you are striving to do, is play clean games. We get a little break there and the three-run shot by Zobrist." The Cubs have outscored their opponents this season by 93 runs, 159-66, by far the highest total in the Majors. They outscored the Pirates in this series, 20-5. "These past three, we had opportunities, but we didn't play our best baseball," McCutchen said. "We can all look at that and know it wasn't the type of baseball we played prior to coming here. That's all it is. We've got to be better coming through in big, key situations." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Great escape: Lester did some masterful pitching to escape a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning. He struck out Sean Rodriguez, got Josh Harrison to fly out to right and struck out Gregory Polanco to end the threat. He pitched out of trouble again in fifth inning, getting a big strikeout of Starling Marte. "Obviously, not the situation I wanted to put myself in, especially two starts in a row," Lester said. "But we got out of it and tried to take the positives from it." Another memorable out came in the bottom of the second. Francisco Cervelli hit a comebacker that got stuck in the web of Lester's glove. So the lefty improvised and threw his entire glove to first base for the out. Third out, in and out: With two outs and one on in the third, Rizzo ripped a line drive to center field. McCutchen charged in on the ball and caught it as he slid, but the ball bounced out of his glove after he landed, allowing Rizzo to reach safely. One pitch later, Zobrist launched a three-run homer. "He smoked it," McCutchen said. "It was a knuckleball. I did what I could to try to catch it. I did everything I could to try to catch it. When my glove hit the ground, it popped out. Tried to catch it, that's all you can do."

Rizzo raking: Rizzo homered off Ryan Vogelsong to lead off the seventh inning, his ninth home run of the year and his 27th RBI. The Cubs' first baseman has six homers and 16 RBIs over his past 12 games, with at least one RBI in 10 of those 12 games. Re-Joyce: Matt Joyce continued his impressive turnaround at the plate, crushing a two-run homer to right field off Cubs reliever Adam Warren in the seventh inning. It was Joyce's Major League-leading third pinch-hit home run and his fourth overall. QUOTABLE "Just keep pushing. That's what we do. We're never going to let one game or one series affect what we do as a group. It's baseball. Teams don't go 162-0." – Harrison "We'll hit the reset button. Off-day comes at a good time." – Hurdle SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS This was the Cubs' first sweep of the Pirates since September 2012, when they swept the Bucs in a three-game series at PNC Park. REPLAY REVIEW With one out in the fifth inning, Pirates leadoff man Jordy Mercer hit a grounder to shortstop Addison Russell and was ruled out at first base. Pittsburgh challenged the call, and after a 2-minute review, the call was overturned and Mercer was ruled safe. The Pirates retained their challenge. WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: The Cubs return to Wrigley Field and open a four-game series with the Nationals on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. CT. Right-hander Kyle Hendricks, 1-2 with a 3.52 ERA so far this season, will make his fifth start of the year for the Cubs. Pirates: After a day off to travel Thursday, the Pirates will begin a three-game series against the Cardinals at 8:15 p.m. ET Friday. Left-hander Francisco Liriano will start against St. Louis, as he did on Opening Day, and third baseman David Freese will play at Busch Stadium for the first time as a visiting player. The Bucs and Cards have split their last 60 games evenly, with 30 wins each. -- Cubs.com Cubs' dominant pitching sets tone for success By George Von Benko PITTSBURGH -- In a matchup between the two top teams in the National League Central, the Cubs' 6-2 win over the Pirates on Wednesday completed a three-game sweep at PNC Park. Chicago's recipe for success includes a key component -- outstanding pitching. The Cubs allowed only five runs in the series. In three straight days, right-handers Jason Hammel and Jake Arrieta and lefty Jon Lester handcuffed the Pirates' offense. "We pitched really well, and we've done that the whole year," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "The offense was good again, but the part that permits the offense to get into the flow of the game is the pitching has been so good. We've been able to stay at least even most of the time or on top of the other side, and offensively, we keep having

good at-bats during the course of the game and then have a chance to wear people down by the end. That's pretty much been [the] road map to this point." The Cubs outscored the Pirates, 20-5, during the series. "We had the boys going on the bump, and they threw like we expected them to throw," Cubs catcher David Ross said. "Limiting them says a lot about pitch execution. Jon Lester today got into some jams and was able to pitch out of it, which was really nice to see. He's done that a couple times here lately. It was nice." The Cubs' pitching has sparked them to a 20-6 record as they head back to Wrigley Field for a big homestand. "We've been doing all right," Lester said. "Obviously, today I would have liked to have gone a little deeper in that game, but Adam Warren comes in and gets me out of that jam and picks me up, and obviously Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon. We've been throwing the ball really well. I think that's allowed our offense to relax a little bit and swing the bats like they've done. We'll just keep the same approach as a pitching staff and keep attacking and try to put up as many zeros as we can." -- Cubs.com Clash of titans: Can Nats slow Majors-leading Cubs? By Phil Rogers CHICAGO -- Sometimes everything works out just right, even the timing. Bryce Harper is bringing the Nationals to Wrigley Field on Thursday. Jake Arrieta's Cubs are going to be there and waiting. When the Nats roll out to smash some batting-practice fastballs over the ivy-covered walls, they'll carry the swagger that goes with a 19-8 start. The Cubs will smile politely and ride the confidence that comes with their 20-6 record and season-long history of pounding opponents. Not only are they the only team in the Major Leagues that hasn't lost back-to-back games, but they've also outscored their opponents by 93, the most over the first 26 games of a season since Christy Mathewson's Giants dominated out of the gate in 1905. Yes, 1905, three years before the Cubs won their last championship. These are special times, and this four-game affair figures to be one of those special regular-season series, the kind that people will still be talking about in October, especially if the teams happen to meet in the postseason. Among the matchups to watch: Dusty vs. Joe There may be managers as cool as Dusty Baker and Joe Maddon, but none who are cooler. Both are philosophical savants who work to empower their players, not manipulate them like chess pieces. They're perfect fits for the teams they inherited, with Maddon in his second year with the Cubs while Baker still learns his way around Washington after replacing Matt Williams. Between them, they've managed 4,900 regular-season games, but neither skipper has won a World Series. Both continue the quest for that bucket-list item as their careers wind down, although who knows how long they'll manage. Maddon, 62, proclaimed "60 is the new 40" when the Cubs hired him. That same math would make Baker 46, as the calendar says he's due to turn 67 next month.

Another thing Maddon said when the Cubs hired him three seasons into Theo Epstein's rebuilding process was that "the heavy lifting has already been done" for the franchise. That's true for Baker as well. He takes over a team that seemed destined for championships when a 23-year-old Stephen Strasburg led the club to a 98-win campaign in 2012, but the Nationals have yet to win a postseason series. Baker knows all about the follies of manifest destiny, of course. He had the Cubs within five outs of their first World Series appearance since 1945 in Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series. Baker has been a lightning rod for criticism in Chicago ever since, but his return brings little novelty, as he made regular trips to Wrigley Field in his six years managing the Reds. Harper vs. Bryant Here's a little secret about these two polished products from Las Vegas: the Cubs' third baseman, who won the NL Rookie of the Year Award last season, is older than the reigning NL Most Valuable Player Award winner. Harper and Bryant have been on parallel tracks since they were pre-teens, and they played together in the All-Star Game last year. There's no true rivalry here, but both play with such verve that it's a treat to see the two poster boys on the same field. They're as marketable as they are talented, and they're in a race to see who can reach the World Series first. In terms of head-to-head performance, they essentially played to a high-level draw last season. Bryant edged Harper in batting average (.368-.261) and OPS (1.168-1.153) in the seven-game season series, but Harper outhomered Bryant, 3-2. The Cubs won four of seven. Nats' deep rotation vs. Cubs' deep lineup One hallmark of Chicago's start has been the balanced lineup's ability to make opponents throw a lot of pitches, frequently leading to starters' early exits. They chased the Pirates' Gerrit Cole and Juan Nicasio in the fifth inning in this week's sweep at Pittsburgh, making it nine times in 26 games that the opposing starter hasn't made it through the fifth. No opposing starter has worked more than seven innings against the Cubs, with the average just under five innings. Consider the gauntlet dropped for Nationals' starting pitchers, who have a 2.19 ERA, only percentage points behind the Majors-leading Cubs. Chicago will miss Strasburg, but that's not much of a relief as it will face Joe Ross, Max Scherzer, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark. Their ERAs range from Ross' 0.79 to Scherzer's 3.55. The free-agent second basemen Daniel Murphy was a one-man wrecking crew for much of last October, helping the Mets reach the World Series with seven homers in nine postseason games against the Dodgers and Cubs. Maddon was among those amazed. "I've not seen anything like this, I don't think, ever," Maddon said after the Mets swept the Cubs. "I saw [Barry] Bonds in the 2002 World Series, where you did not want to throw a baseball to him as a pitcher. Right now [with Murphy], it's just incredible." Murphy figured to cash in as a free agent, but the bigger deal went to Ben Zobrist, who contributed significantly to the Royals' victory over the Mets in the World Series. He turned down a bigger offer from the Nationals before signing a four-year, $56 million deal with the Cubs at the Winter Meetings. Murphy had to wait until Jan. 6 to get his three-year, $37.5 million deal with the Nats, likely due to his poor defense in October. Both are off to a good start, but right now, it's advantage, Murph. His four-hit day on Wednesday moved him into the MLB lead with a .398 average. Murphy's 1.112 OPS trails only Cardinals rookie Aledmys Diaz. Jake vs. Bryce

Isn't it great when they save the best act for last? In the series finale on Sunday afternoon, the seemingly unbeatable Arrieta gets a chance to stare down Harper, who is hitting a very productive .266 (10 homers and 26 RBIs in 27 games). Statcast™ might want to track the height of the bat flip if Harper drives a fastball onto Sheffield Avenue. Harper owns four career hits off Arrieta in 12 at-bats, including a double, but he hasn't ever homered off the righty. They haven't faced off since Arrieta entered this 26-start stretch in which he's pitched better for longer than anyone in history (22-1 record with a 0.85 ERA and 96 hits allowed in 190 innings). You know Arrieta's going to be prepared for Harper, just like Harper will be prepared for Arrieta. We'll be ready, too. -- Cubs.com Hendricks looks to keep Cubs rolling in opener vs. Nats By George Von Benko The Cubs are set to open a four-game series with the Nationals on Thursday night at Wrigley Field. It's a matchup of two of the top teams in baseball. "It's wonderful, and I mean that sincerely," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "It's just so much fun to play good teams, it really is." Right-hander Kyle Hendricks (1-2, 3.52 ERA) will make his fifth start of the season in the series opener against the Nats. He will be pitching on eight days' rest, as he last pitched April 26 vs. Milwaukee and received a no-decision in that outing after tossing five innings of two-hit, one-run ball. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter after throwing only 69 pitches. Hendricks has made two starts against the Nationals (both last season), going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA. Right-hander Joe Ross will make his fifth start of the season for Washington. Ross is 3-0 with a 0.79 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 14/7 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 22 2/3 innings. Through the first month of the season, Ross has been as good as advertised. Last Saturday, he held a hot-hitting Cardinals lineup to one run in six innings, leading the Nationals to a 6-1 victory at Busch Stadium. Things to know about this game • The Cubs have won seven of nine series this season and their first five road series of a season for the first time since winning their first six in 1995. • The Nationals' 19-8 record is one of the best starts in Nationals/Expos history. The 1979 Expos also went 19-8. The '32 Senators boast the best record for a D.C.-based team through the first 26 games at 19-7. • Bryce Harper was 1-for-20 in his past five games before going 2-for-4 with a home run Wednesday. He is now hitting .266 for the season. --

Cubs.com La Stella embracing role, proving valuable By George Von Benko PITTSBURGH -- Cubs bench player Tommy La Stella has proven to be a valuable piece as the Cubs have streaked out to the lead in the National League Central. La Stella, 27, who came to the Cubs from the Braves before the 2015 season, works hard to keep sharp in his reserve role. "It's a difficult role," La Stella said. "But it's like anything, the more you do it, the more you get used to it. You get kind of a routine, I think that was the biggest thing for me, kind of just getting a routine down and getting ready for playing or a pinch-hit role." Including Wednesday's series finale vs. the Pirates, La Stella has started eight games this season (six at third base, two at second base). He went 6-for-9 with three walks in five games from April 22-29 before going 0-for-8 in his next two games. Last season, La Stella was the club's best pinch-hitter, going 6-for-14 for a .429 average. He embraces the challenge of coming off the bench to pinch-hit. "It starts with being open-minded to the idea that's it's not about me, it's about the team," La Stella said. "Not only is it tolerable, but you look forward to the opportunities. I think you kind of keep yourself perpetually loose because you don't know when that time is coming, and you want to be ready to go whenever that time does come." La Stella also works hard on staying sharp defensively at both third and second base. "I think it all starts in batting practice," La Stella said. "Making sure I'm taking the reps at both second and third and just kind of working around at all the infield positions, really." Cubs manager Joe Maddon appreciates what La Stella brings to the table. "Some guys are clamoring to be a star, and a player can be annoyed when he doesn't get that opportunity," Maddon said. "He's never annoyed." -- Cubs.com Cubs using caution with Heyward's wrist By George Von Benko PITTSBURGH -- The Cubs continue to be cautious with outfielder Jason Heyward, who was out of the lineup for a third straight game as the Cubs faced the Pirates for the finale of a three-game series at PNC Park on Wednesday. Heyward is nursing a sore right wrist and continues to receive treatment from the Cubs' training staff. "He's doing well," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Last night, I was going to use him possibly defensively or as a baserunner -- I didn't want him to hit. There's different ways to use him today. I haven't spoken with him or the trainers. They are working on things. "It's still my impression that it is not a DL situation. We've been going fine, so there was no reason to push it today. Let's just not push it right now and make sure he's feeling pretty good about himself." --

ESPNChicago.com What the Cubs think of Bryce Harper's fun campaign By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- You might be surprised but when it comes to fist pumps and bat flips, 62-year-old Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon and his mild-mannered NL Rookie of the Year don't have a real problem with it. We know how Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper feels about the concept -- he's outspoken about it -- but Maddon and Kris Bryant are OK with, well, whatever. "If I grew up with it, and it was just part of the game, sure. I think everyone would do it, but it's not 100 percent there," Bryant said recently. "There are guys that do it certain ways and guys that don't and that's cool to me. I like seeing different personalities. That's what makes it fun." Said Maddon: "For the most part I don't have a problem with most anything as long as a guy plays hard, works hard." Harper has been upfront about wanting baseball to change its old-school ways and throw out the unwritten rule book. He's bound to show some emotion this weekend at Wrigley Field as the top two teams in the National League face off for a four-game series. He and Bryant are both from Las Vegas and played together growing up, but they have different personalities and sometimes that shows up on the field. "It's hard for me to get out there and bat flip because half the time I don't know if it's a homer or not," Bryant said with a smile. "I just put my head down and run and not try to show anyone up. Especially me so early on in my career I don't want to ruffle feathers. I just want to go out there and play my game. That's how I've always been." Maddon concurred with youth being a factor in how you conduct yourself. Or rather experience. Harper is young -- but he's established. The Cubs' manager was quick to come down on former outfielder Junior Lake for a bat flip in Miami last year, but mostly because Lake hadn't done anything in his career. "Depends on who's doing the bat flipping," Maddon said with a half-smile. "If you've played for like two weeks and you're flipping bats, you're going to get yourself hurt. "The fist pumping? I've never minded that. Dennis Eckersley was a big fist pumper. There's other guys -- maybe a little more stoic." Maddon also agreed there have always been guys with their own way of doing things. It's not just a recent phenomenon. People forget that. Even Bryant could appreciate it watching baseball growing up. "I used to love to watch Lance Berkman," Bryant said. "When he hit a home run he would just put the bat on the plate. I don't know if pitchers thought he was showing them up, but it was his thing. Then you think of Bret Boone and his little bat flip. It's been out there." So are Harper, Bryant and Maddon that different in their thinking? It doesn't sound like it -- it's just that Harper is more outspoken about it. "Baseball's tired," he told ESPN the Magazine recently. "It's a tired sport, because you can't express yourself. You can't do what people in other sports do. I'm not saying baseball is, you know, boring or anything like that, but it's the excitement of the young guys who are coming into the game now who have flair. If that's Matt Harvey or Jacob deGrom or Manny Machado or Joc Pederson or Andrew McCutchen or Yasiel Puig -- there's so many guys in the game now who are so much fun." And that's Bryant and Maddon's point as well. Let people be themselves. If that involves some flair, so be it. For Bryant, he's not one that needs it but is OK if others do.

"There's a lot of different personalities and that's what makes it attractive for fans," Bryant said. "For me baseball is fun. I enjoy every minute of it. There's no time out there that I can't find myself smiling. For me baseball is in a pretty good spot." So while he differs with Harper on the "tired" notion he respects Harper's views. And Maddon wouldn't mind it if old timers could remember what it was like when they were young. "That's the thing we forget," Maddon said. "That's what's so disappointing sometimes growing up in the era that we did and then you see people that are in charge and they've forgotten what it was like when we were a bunch of goofballs for lack of a better term. "It bums me out when I see that. It really does. You'd like to see there was an evolution of thinking moving forward." As for Harper, Maddon likes him because the times he has seen him play he hustles and plays the game the right way. Some might see it different, but the Cubs manager respects what the reigning NL MVP brings to the table. "I have no problem with the guy enjoying playing the game," he said. "I think he respects the game and his place in the game." -- ESPNChicago.com Joe Maddon Q&A: Who makes guest list at Cubs manager's ultimate dinner party? By Jesse Rogers PITTSBURGH -- Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon is piloting the best team in baseball right now. The eclectic skipper took time to talk all things Cubs as well as have some fun with some other pressing questions. Have you ever had or even been around a more dominant month than what you just experienced in April? Joe Maddon: I think I have, but it’s been in the middle of the season. It’s very unusual to start out like that. Last time I was in a start this good I think I was in Salinas [Class A] like in 1978 or 1977; I think we had a start where we were like 45-10. A big part of the run differential right now is about our pitching. People think run differential they think the offense is just going nuts, but with a more pedestrian pitching staff you wouldn’t have that run differential. Are you cognizant of seeing something we’ve never seen before every time Jake Arrieta takes the mound? JM: I don’t think about it until afterwards when Peter [Chase, the Cubs' director of media relations] gives me the latest stat or milestone. That’s when it slaps me in the face, otherwise I don’t think about it. Working with Jake he’s such a normal, approachable guy you don’t think about those things. When you do watch him pitch from the side it does strike you a little bit like, "Man." A part of it is how bad the other team’s takes are, not their swings. How badly they look when they take a pitch. That’s when he’s really on. Cubs manager Joe Maddon would invite Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Gibson to dinner if he could. Getty Images OK, some quick dinner companion questions. Not including Sandy Koufax, since you just spent time with him in spring training, name me three other baseball people you’d like to share a meal with. JM: I’ve thought about this. I’ll go with Bob Gibson, my favorite player. Then Branch Rickey and probably Jackie Robinson. How about dinner with three non-baseball people? JM: It’s hard to stick with three. I’ve always said the author Pat Conroy ["The Prince of Tides," "The Great Santini"]. I almost met him but he just passed away. He’s by far my favorite author. Going into the past I’ve always thought

Mark Twain would be cool to hang out with for a little bit. Just his mind and perception of things and just his sense of humor: I would love to understand it a little bit better. Last one I’ll say Bruce Springsteen. Have to have some rock 'n' roll in there. Taking nothing away from anyone else on your team, which player would keep your interest over a long dinner? JM: Probably Jake Arrieta. He’s so interesting. Probably him. You’ve always said you want your players to have a life outside of baseball. Who on your team needs to adhere to that and spend less time at the ballpark? JM: (laughing) Hitting coach John Mallee. He comes to the ballpark way too early for me, man. He drives me nuts. Not withstanding anything that has happened here with the Pirates, you don’t believe in pitchers retaliating or throwing at hitters on purpose. That’s kind of a new-school thought. Are there cons to it? Can you be taken advantage of? JM: Well, just because it’s my feeling doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen on teams that I have. To me that’s more of an organic moment where your players take that into consideration. I’m not going to tell anyone to do anything, but there’s that part of the game where certain members of the team will take that into their own purview. And if I was a player I would be that player too. Which new or even old rule in baseball do you think should be thrown out? JM: I don’t like the stuff at second base or home plate. Neither one of them. To me that’s about teaching proper technique. On the slides and on defense. You have a cool streak going of avoiding losing two in a row this season. Is there more going on there than just talent? Is there some mental thing happening as well? JM: Well, I’m not sure people understand what it means to lose hard or win hard for 30 [minutes]. When you permit yourself to lose for more than 30 minutes then it can carry over to the next day. I think it’s important to understand that. I think that mindset is contributing. We’re pretty good at getting over it in 30 minutes. Last one. Fill in the blank. I’ve always thought baseball should _______. JM: Play all night games. -- ESPNChicago.com 'Run differential' is becoming Cubs' favorite phrase By Jesse Rogers PITTSBURGH -- Forget “Embrace the Target” or “Try Not to Suck” or any of the other sayings popularized by Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon. The phrase of the season -- as unsexy as it is -- is “run differential.” The Cubs are on a historic pace of blowing teams out, and there’s no end in sight after a dominating sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates this week. “We’re superhappy to beat up on our division second-place team and separate ourselves a little bit, but the approach of the team is still day-to-day,” Cubs catcher David Ross said after Wednesday’s 6-2 finale. That four-run margin was as close as the Pirates came in any one game, and perhaps the Cubs need to keep things day-to-day in order to stay grounded. Usually that cliché is used to keep a team focused, but since the end of spring training, this team has been on a mission.

“We do a really good job of grinding out each individual inning, whether we’re hitting or on defense,” Wednesday’s winner Jon Lester said. “We’ve done a good job so far.” Lester is part of a starting staff that is turning heads and is a big reason that the team’s winning percentage (.769) and difference between runs scored and runs against (plus-93) are so off the charts. The rotation has a 2.19 ERA after Lester’s 5⅔ scoreless innings. He ground through some of the game, but for the second time in two starts, he escaped a bases-loaded-nobody-out jam -- and the Cubs never looked back. The final tally for the series was 20-5 in favor of the visitors. If you’re keeping track at home, that was another plus-15 on their run differential. “We know what we’re up against in this division,” Lester said. “[Pittsburgh]'s a good ball club. The Cardinals are a good ball club. We know we have to go through those two teams to go where we want to go.” At this point, observers might think the opposite is true -- teams have to go through the Cubs -- as the numbers point to a run-scoring and run-prevention pace that is unprecedented in the history of the game. The Cubs have scored 93 more runs than their opponents through the first 26 games. It is the greatest differential through 26 games since 1905 and puts them on pace to shatter the all-time record of plus-411 set by the 1939 New York Yankees. Of course, they’ll slow down, won’t they? If not, they’ll outscore the opposition by a whopping 579 runs over the course of 162 games. “We pitched really well,” Maddon said. “We’ve been doing that the whole year. We keep having good at-bats, then wear people out at the end. That’s pretty much been the road map to this point.” First in runs scored, first in runs prevented: The statistics can start and end right there. Think about it: They’re outscoring American League teams that get to use a designated hitter. Then again, Cubs pitchers have outhit some teams’ designated hitters. One narrative emerging is around the Cubs' ability to plug in backups and not miss a beat. Miguel Montero is down? Let’s catch Tim Federowicz for Jake Arrieta. He was on base three times on Tuesday and amusingly said, "You could put a net back there," in reference to catching the Cy Young winner. When Jason Heyward surprised everyone with a wrist injury and then Matt Szczur strained a hamstring, the Cubs figured to lose a little something, at least on defense. But here comes Javier Baez, who’s putting on a show at third base and even at the plate. “Javy continues to play a different level of baseball,” Maddon said. “The whole game. The fact that he’s so mentally aware is fun to watch.” Maybe this is what it felt like last season for the St. Louis Cardinals. Every time they endured an injury, another guy stepped up. The Cubs are feeding off each other and having a blast at the same time. Wacky Suit Week might need a return engagement after the team went undefeated in Pittsburgh. As fun as it was, Maddon always tries to provide some meaning in his gimmicks. Players were required to wear at least a part of their zany suits around town, inducing plenty of strange stares. It goes back to Maddon’s essence: being comfortable in your own skin. “I really believe it benefits you out here,” Maddon said before the game, pointing to the field. “I believe the fact that you’re not concerned about superficial nonsense permits you to focus and play your game better.” Who can argue with him the way his team is playing? Every button he pushes works and every player on the roster is seemingly contributing. Can they keep it up? Maybe the Pirates aren’t as good as we think -- they need some help on the mound -- but the Washington Nationals might be the Cubs' equal. They come to Chicago for four games beginning on Thursday, sporting the exact same ERA from their starting staff as the Cubs'. Ross says they’ll think about them on Thursday morning, so for now the they’ll just celebrate a series sweep playing without their most expensive player.

“The fact that we can give Jason [Heyward] some rest and still play well is a good thing,” Maddon said. “Go up and down the lineup -- everyone is contributing.” But in the end, Maddon wanted to stress one simple thing about the newest favorite phrase of any Cubs fan: The Cubs' run differential isn’t about their offense. “It says a lot about our pitching,” Maddon stated. Just ask the Pirates. -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs complete dominant sweep of Pirates By Jesse Rogers PITTSBURGH -- It never was a contest. Billed as two teams that would fight tooth and nail for the division title, only one showed up this week, and it was the Chicago Cubs. A statement was made over the course of three days -- even if one wasn’t intended. It would be one thing if the Pittsburgh Pirates had made it close, but they were never closer than within four runs of the Cubs at the end of any game. It was sheer domination. Final tally for the series after a 6-2 win on Wednesday: 20-5. Jon Lester joined Jake Arrieta and Jason Hammel in shutting down the Pirates' potent offense. Any time in the series Pittsburgh threatened -- including Wednesday afternoon -- the Cubs starters had an answer. Lester got into a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, then promptly got out of it with no damage. Having thrown his glove with the ball in it to first base to get an out is a funny afterthought after a shutout performance. It’s not the first time Lester has done that, and it’s not the first time he’s shut down the opposition this year. His ERA is 1.58 after 5 2/3 shutout innings. The night before, Arrieta walked the first two batters of the game, but they would be two of only four runners he allowed. Hammel was the only one to give up runs, but they hardly made a dent in the outcome on Monday. Time and again this week, Cubs pitching stymied the Pirates. In total the three starters threw 17 2/3 innings in the series, giving up two runs. That’s called a dominating performance by a dominating team that is the first to 20 wins in the big leagues. -- CSNChicago.com Next? Cubs sweep Pirates and take aim at Nationals By Patrick Mooney PITTSBURGH – Next? The Cubs just dominated a Pittsburgh Pirates team that’s won 280 games and made three playoff appearances across the last three seasons, showing they’re so much more than a look-at-us team on paper and baseball’s goofiest clubhouse. Joe Maddon’s “Minimalist Zany” road trip ended with Wednesday afternoon’s 6-2 win at PNC Park, the Cubs finishing off the three-game sweep before changing into the suits – pink coats, leopard and camouflage pants, ugly plaid and Stars and Stripes – required for the flight back home to Chicago and a showdown against the Washington Nationals. The Cubs spent close to $290 million on free agents after beating the Pirates in last year’s National League wild-card game, while also budgeting for the natural improvement from their young players and the experience gained during that playoff run.

The Cubs outscored Pittsburgh 20-5 during what was supposed to be a tight, tense series, bumping their run differential to plus-93 for the season. Did the Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals do enough to keep up in the Central? Is this really the game’s toughest division? Still see you in October? “We know what we’re up against,” winning pitcher Jon Lester said after throwing 5.2 scoreless innings against the Pirates (15-13). “That’s a good ballclub. The Cardinals are a good ballclub. We know that we have to go through those two teams to get where we want to go.” At 20-6, the Cubs have the best record in baseball, a six-game lead over the Pirates, questionable fashion sense, contributors up and down the roster and a killer instinct. When Gold Glove outfielder Andrew McCutchen couldn’t secure the bullet Anthony Rizzo hit to center with two outs in the third inning – initially ruled an error – Ben Zobrist blasted Juan Nicasio’s next pitch onto the right-center field concourse for a three-run homer. “We constantly are putting the pressure on the other team,” catcher David Ross said. “That ball’s smoked. I don’t know if that’s a break our way or not. That ball’s crushed. That’s a tough play and you see a superstar almost make (it). It’s a sign of a good team when they take advantage of the other team’s mistakes. But it’s also a product of us constantly putting pressure on their team. Those guys are standing out there a long time.” If not for Jake Arrieta’s historic run and encore performance after his Cy Young Award, more people would be talking about Lester’s fast start (3-1, 1.58 ERA). Lester worked around a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning with two strikeouts and Zobrist helping to prevent a sacrifice fly on a ball hit down the right-field line, covering for Jason Heyward while the Gold Glover rests a sore wrist. Lester could also laugh about his throwing issues that have been dissected over and over again. When Lester fielded Francisco Cervelli’s comebacker in the second inning and the ball got stuck in his glove, he tossed his glove at Rizzo. The first baseman dropped his glove to the ground and cradled Lester’s glove in his chest. “God dang, how about that?” Lester said. “I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job of keeping care of my glove and making sure I don’t have any holes or it’s loose or anything like that. Of course, today it finds that hole. But an out’s an out, so whatever.” After what turned out to be a whatever series in Pittsburgh, maybe these four games against the Nationals will create some buzz, starting Thursday night at Wrigley Field. It means the return of Dusty Baker – no manager has pushed the Cubs farther or closer to the World Series since 1945 – and side-by-side comparisons of Boras Corp. clients Max Scherzer ($210 million guaranteed) and Arrieta (the meter is still running). Plus there’s the friendly rivalry between Bryce Harper and Kris Bryant, the league’s reigning MVP and Rookie of the Year who grew up together in Las Vegas playing with and against each other. And Jonathan Papelbon, the eccentric closer the Cubs tried to trade for last summer before the Nationals flexed their financial muscle (only to watch it sabotage their clubhouse without the buffer zone of ex-Boston Red Sox players the Cubs could have created). “It’s just so much fun to play good teams,” Maddon said. “You get them on the field and then you look out there from the dugout: How do we stack up? What does this thing feel like? You look on TV, you read different things, but you got to actually see it.” The rest of the baseball world is just beginning to see what this sleeping-giant franchise could become. --

CSNChicago.com Cubs vs. Nationals: Joe Maddon digs Bryce Harper’s style By Patrick Mooney PITTSBURGH – Joe Maddon and Bryce Harper are on the same side of baseball’s culture war, even as the Cubs and Washington Nationals appear to be on a collision course toward October. The National League’s two best teams so far will face off on Thursday night at Wrigley Field, where Harper will be a focus throughout a four-game series overflowing with storylines. That’s how Harper wants it, and that’s what Major League Baseball needs now, larger-than-life personalities who aren’t afraid to show some emotions and say what they actually think and try to wake up such a “tired sport.” Harper’s line to ESPN The Magazine went viral in spring training, and it echoes when Maddon brainstorms another wacky themed road trip, trolls the St. Louis Cardinals and invites zoo animals to Wrigleyville. So if Harper blasts a home run onto Sheffield Avenue and flips his bat in celebration, Maddon won’t have an issue with the league’s reigning MVP. The smirking Cubs manager knows it when he sees it. “It depends on who’s doing the bat-flipping,” Maddon said. “If you’ve played for like two weeks and you’re flipping bats, that’s how you’re going to get yourself hurt.” Maddon rarely criticizes his own players in front of the media, but he called it a “punk move” last year when Junior Lake almost started a bench-clearing brawl at Marlins Park, flipping his bat, admiring his shot from home plate and shushing Miami’s dugout while rounding third base. “I just think when you’re brand new – just understand your place a little bit,” Maddon said. “That’s why I got on Junior that time. There are a lot of things that don’t bother me, (but) that was so obvious to me. He did it right in front of our dugout and he had not been playing that much. That’s why it bummed me out. “But for the most part, I have no problem with most anything. As long as the guy plays hard, works hard, is sincere about his effort, I’m OK.” By all accounts, that’s Harper, who’s still only 23 years old and gets similarity scores comparable to these players on his Baseball-Reference page: Frank Robinson; Mickey Mantle; Miguel Cabrera; Mike Trout; Hank Aaron; and Ken Griffey Jr. “When he first came up, I remember watching him and he stole home on a double steal,” Maddon said. “He just ran the bases really well and hard – that was my first impression of him. I know he can hit. I know he’s got power. I know he’s got all that stuff. But I just liked the way he played. “I have no problem with a guy enjoying playing the game. He’s got a lot of respect for the game and his place in the game. But any time a guy plays it hard, you always appreciate that. And that’s what I see with him.” Maddon flashed back to the way Dennis Eckersley used to pump his fist after getting a big out – and his own personal history as a baby boomer raised in the 1960s and 1970s and listening to loud music and partying at his old Lafayette College fraternity house. That’s what makes Maddon able to relate to Harper’s individual expressions, even though “Baseball’s Chosen One” was born in 1992. “That’s the thing that we forget,” Maddon said. “That’s what’s so disappointing sometimes, growing up in the era that I did, and then you see people that are quote-unquote ‘in charge,’ and they forgot what it was like when we were a bunch of…goofballs, for lack of a better term.

“You’d like to believe that there’s a certain evolution of thinking as it moves forward. The long hair back in the day, the high stirrups, the tight uniforms, everybody has their own little shtick. So what? So what? It’s just a tendency to forget what it was like when we were growing up sometimes. I promise you I’ve not forgotten.” -- CSNChicago.com Javier Baez becoming a game-changer for Cubs on defense and offense By Patrick Mooney PITTSBURGH – When Javier Baez made his splashy debut in August 2014, it symbolized how much the Cubs wanted to sell the future and change the conversation after another selloff at the trade deadline. But it also makes a statement when Javy Being Javy starts to live up to the hype – and create a highlight reel – only as a role player. That’s one takeaway from the defensive clinic Baez put on at third base during this three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates that ended with Wednesday’s 6-2 win at PNC Park. “It’s a crazy situation here with the talent we have,” pitcher Jake Arrieta said, “and Javy at times being overlooked and not necessarily in the starting lineup every day. To have a guy like that with probably some of the best hands in all of baseball off the bench (is) a luxury that we’re happy to have. He’s a special talent.” A natural shortstop, Baez has a unique ability to read the ball off the bat, but he’s also realized the value of sitting back and waiting at third base. Baez writes and eats left-handed and uses that as his dominant side, which helps him get into such an easy defensive flow. Even more than Addison Russell, Baez has the classic, big arm you’re looking for in a prototypical shortstop. “You’re crazy,” Arrieta told Baez on Tuesday night after watching the third baseman react to a John Jaso check swing in the sixth inning, charging to the edge of the infield grass, grabbing the ball with his bare hand and making a fluid throw to first base for the out. Baez made it look easy again in the seventh inning, going to his backhand on a David Freese chopper up the third-base line, planting his right foot on the edge of the outfield grass and unleashing a laser throw to first base. Baez got Freese again in the ninth inning, making a charging backhanded play look routine and reinforcing why manager Joe Maddon sees him as such a weapon. “You can actually say without stretching things way too far that he’s one of the best infielders in the National League – and he doesn’t start,” Maddon said. “Just purely as a defensive, groundball, infield-acumen kind of player, he’s one of the best in the league right now. Period. “So we just got to find an opportunity for him. His bat continues to make progress. I absolutely feel great when he’s out there on defense, because he can really impact a game in a positive way.” With a 3-for-5, two-RBI afternoon on Wednesday, Baez pushed his average to .341, showing that he’s not the same all-or-nothing hitter who struck out 95 times and put up nine homers in 52 games in 2014. “When I got called up, I was hot with the bat, but I knew it wasn’t me,” Baez said. “It wasn’t my swing. I’m finally feeling really good at the plate and hopefully we can keep it going.” Whether that means bumping Kris Bryant to the outfield more often or becoming that Ben Zobrist super-utility guy or filling in for the next injured player, right now it looks like the Cubs made the right choice in holding onto Baez and not packaging him in a deal for a pitcher. “You have not only a guy that can play the hell out of some infield,” pitcher Jon Lester said, “but he also gives you another guy at the bottom end of that lineup that has some thump. You make a mistake and this guy can take you back.”

Credit Baez for making those adjustments at the plate, smoothing out some of his rougher edges and realizing that for now this is his path to sticking in The Show. “I’ve been showing how much I’ve been growing up and my discipline at the plate,” Baez said. “My mind is all over the place with the positions, but I don’t have any problems playing it. I think I’m doing a pretty good job playing defense.” --