April 10, 2017

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs ring in the home season with banner Wrigley opener Monday http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-ring-in-the-home-season-with-banner-wrigley-opener-monday/

Chicago Sun-Times, Jake Arrieta irked at outside speculation over heater, beats Crew http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/jake-arrieta-irked-at-outside-speculation-over-heater-beats-crew/

Chicago Sun-Times, A heavenly homecoming at Wrigley — time to party like it’s 2016 http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/a-heavenly-homecoming-at-wrigley-time-to-party-like-its-2016/

Daily Herald, Pitchers to get look at new Wrigley Field bullpens http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170409/sports/170408829/

Daily Herald, Chicago Cubs' Arrieta strikes out 10 in win over Brewers http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170409/sports/170408857/

Daily Herald, Big things planned for Chicago Cubs' first two home games http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170409/sports/170408830/

Daily Herald, Imrem: Ricketts stays true to his word on Chicago Cubs http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170409/sports/170408841/

Cubs.com, Arrieta strikes out 10, wins 100th Cubs start http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/223246134/kyle-schwarber-cubs-beat-brewers/

Cubs.com, Early hitting results encouraging for Heyward http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/223312076/cubs-encouraged-by-jason-heywards-start/

Cubs.com, Holy Bow: Banner night for Cubs at Wrigley! http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/223248464/cubs-will-raise-banners-at-2017-home-opener/

Cubs.com, Banner-raising Cubs ring in Wrigley opener http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/221915386/mlbtv-is-back-for-15th-year-with-new-features/

Cubs.com, Heyward, Rizzo helped design WS rings http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/223248696/jason-heyward-helped-design-world-series-ring/

ESPNChicago.com, Welcome to the new (and improved?) Wrigley: Banner raising starts next Cubs era http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/43620/welcome-to-the-new-and-improved-wrigley-banner-raising-starts-next-cubs-era

ESPNChicago.com, Cubs encouraged by Jason Heyward's progress at the plate http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/43626/cubs-encouraged-by-jason-heywards-progress-at-the-plate

ESPNChicago.com, So much for Kris Bryant's 'slump' http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/43606/so-much-for-kris-bryants-slump

CSNChicago.com, Jake Arrieta Fires Back At Questions About His Velocity http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/jake-arrieta-fires-back-questions-about-his-velocity

CSNChicago.com, While Cubs Plan Wrigley Celebration, Jason Heyward Is On To New Season And Off To Good Start http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/while-cubs-plan-wrigley-celebration-jason-heyward-new-season-and-good-start

CSNChicago.com, What The Wrigley Banner-Raising Ceremony Means To Cubs Ace Jon Lester http://www.csnchicago.com/chicago-cubs/what-wrigley-banner-raising-ceremony-means-cubs-ace-jon-lester

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' World Series celebration set to resume with Monday's home opener http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-cubs-world-series-celebration-sullivan-20170410-column.html

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon tries to keep Cubs' schedule, emotions in check ahead of home opener http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-joe-maddon-home-opener-20170410-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs seek to continue Wrigley Field dominance during Monday's home opener http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-home-opener-spt-0410-20170409-story.html

Chicago Tribune, At long last, Billy Williams gets his well-deserved World Series ring http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-billy-williams-world-series-ring-sullivan-spt-0410-20170409-column.html

Chicago Tribune, Jake Arrieta's velocity has diminished, but not his strikeout ability http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-jake-arrieta-velocity-cubs-notes-spt-0410-20170409-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Cubs' Jason Heyward keeping impressive start in perspective http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-jason-heyward-20170409-story.html

-- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs ring in the home season with banner Wrigley opener Monday By Gordon Wittenmyer MILWAUKEE — A minute or two into a conversation between team president Theo Epstein and reporters on the field before the Cubs’ season opener April 2, fans pressed up against the railing at Busch Stadium in St. Louis and began chanting: ‘‘Thank you, The-O! Thank you, The-O!’’ That was more than a week before the Cubs’ first game at Wrigley Field since their historic World Series championship last fall and only the most recent version of that sentiment from fans in the five months since. ‘‘Every place you go, more than anything you hear, ‘Thank you,’ ’’ Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, his voice lowering. ‘‘And you feel like, ‘Come on.’ ‘‘I have not been around long enough to know exactly the depth of it, but I’m learning.’’ On Monday, fans will pour into the streets and the new plaza outside Wrigley before packing the ballpark for a banner-raising ceremony the National League’s oldest field never has had reason to stage before. Where will they raise the championship banner?

‘‘I have no idea,’’ Maddon said. Exactly. ‘‘It’ll probably be like a playoff game at Wrigley, a World Series game,’’ said right-hander Jake Arrieta (2-0), who struck out 10 in seven innings Sunday to beat the Brewers 7-4 and send the Cubs home with a 4-2 record. ‘‘I expect Waveland, Addison, Sheffield and Clark to be packed. It’s going to be a blast.’’ The Cubs will unveil gold-trimmed hats and gold-lettered jerseys for the banner-raising Monday and the ring ceremony Wednesday. Both promise to bring the noise to late-October, late-inning decibel levels. ‘‘It’ll be exciting; it’ll be energetic,’’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo said of the scene he expects Monday. ‘‘The reaction we got after winning it all last year, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to see that again in any sport. Images I’ll never forget. Memories I’ll never forget. [Monday] will be no different.’’ The ring ceremony Wednesday might be even more intense. ‘‘A lot of tears,’’ reliever Carl Edwards Jr. said of his expectations. Tears for him? ‘‘No,’’ he said. ‘‘Chicago.’’ Edwards said he was asked by a friend last summer what he would do if he and the Cubs won the World Series. ‘‘Crazy,’’ he said. ‘‘And then we won it. I was like, ‘I don’t know what I’ll do.’ And I still don’t know what I’m doing.’’ Even veteran Ben Zobrist, who homered Sunday, can’t be sure what the next two game days will hold emotionally. It might be especially meaningful for him because he became a free agent after winning the World Series with the Royals in 2015 and didn’t experience their banner-raising or ring ceremony. ‘‘It does add something to it, and I’ll be privileged to be a part of it,’’ said Zobrist, whose wife, Julianna, is scheduled to sing ‘‘God Bless America’’ before the game Monday. ‘‘To get a chance to wear that jersey in a game, the gold jersey — not a lot of players get a chance to do it. No one in Chicago yet for the Chicago Cubs.’’ Players have seen renderings and pictures of the rings but have been sworn to secrecy about the details. Many were asked for input on the design. Rumor has it the rings will feature 108 diamonds for the record number of years between Cubs championships. The last one happened so long ago that championship rings weren’t yet a thing, and the World Series trophy didn’t exist in anything close to its current form. ‘‘You know it’s going to be a big ring if they can fit that many stones on there,’’ Arrieta said. ‘‘It’s going to be cool to put it on for the first time.’’ ‘‘I don’t know how much I’ll wear it,’’ right fielder Jason Heyward said. ‘‘I’ll cherish it. I’ll probably look at it a lot.’’ ‘‘I’ll wear it every day,’’ catcher Miguel Montero said. And if it’s a 108-diamond behemoth that dwarfs any finger or thumb? ‘‘Doesn’t matter,’’ Montero said. ‘‘I’ll put it on my wrist.’’ Historic opener

The Cubs plan to wear gold-lettered jerseys, commemorating their World Series title last season, for their first two home games Monday and Wednesday against the Dodgers at renovated Wrigley Field. Pregame events those days: Monday: Alex Wood (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Jon Lester (0-0, 1.80), 7:05 p.m., ESPN, 670-AM. (Events begin about 6:15 p.m.) • Banner-raising ceremony, featuring prominent former Cubs. • Julianna Zobrist (Ben’s wife) sings ‘‘God Bless America.’’ • Wayne Messmer sings the national anthem. • Ricketts family throws out the first pitch. Also, Hall of Famers Fergie Jenkins, Ryne Sandberg and Billy Williams will sing during seventh-inning stretch. • Promotion: Magnetic schedule giveaway (first 30,000 fans). Wednesday: Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 3.00) vs. John Lackey (1-0, 4.50), 7:05 p.m., Ch. 7, 670-AM. (Events begin around 6:15 p.m.) • Ring ceremony, including 20 fans as ring bearers. • David Ross throws out the first pitch and sings during the seventh-inning stretch. It’s not immediately clear whether he will dance. • Promotion: Replica banner giveaway (first 30,000 fans). Thursday: Hyun-Jin Ryu (0-1, 3.86) vs. Brett Anderson (0-0, 1.59), 1:20 p.m. CSN, 670-AM. -- Chicago Sun-Times Jake Arrieta irked at outside speculation over heater, beats Crew By Gordon Wittenmyer MILWAUKEE — If Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta was chapped about talk of his early-season velocity, it was the Milwaukee Brewers who paid the price Sunday. ‘‘Everybody wants to talk about this and the Fangraphs articles, [but] I don’t care about that,’’ Arrieta said after striking out 10 in seven innings in the Cubs’ 7-4 victory against the Brewers at Miller Park in a second start in which his fastball was 2 or 3 mph down from where it usually is. ‘‘I know that kind of stuff can come and go from time to time. I had periods last year where I was at the same spot I am right now. I had one in June, near the All-Star break. It is what it is. I still have good feel for everything. The movement is really good. The command’s good. So when the 95-to-97 comes back, it’s going to be tough for teams. And it still is.’’ Arrieta admitted the ‘‘explosiveness’’ isn’t there right now. ‘‘Some guys would call it, like, a dead arm,’’ he said. ‘‘But I feel good. That’s all I’m worried about.’’ Arrieta talked even before the season started about trying to become more efficient, trying to get outs on two pitches or fewer by commanding his pitches better.

In two starts, he has allowed three earned runs in 13 innings — all three scoring on a home run by Ryan Braun in the third inning Sunday — while striking out 16 and walking four. He has won both starts. ‘‘He was really on top of his game,’’ manager Joe Maddon said. ‘‘And I love the delivery; I love the command. That’s the thing. He didn’t hit 95 or 96 or whatever, but he knew where the fastball was going. ‘‘I just think he’s not feeling his velocity yet. But I think as he stays in this delivery and the velocity shows up — even if it doesn’t, I’ll take that any day of the week over shotgun 94, 95.’’ As the top projected free agent on the market next winter, Arrieta figures to be under heightened scrutiny throughout the season. That’s fine with him, provided the analysts don’t forget to break it down again when his fastball is back to its usual level. ‘‘I don’t worry about it because I know I’m smart enough to work around that and the velocity’s still good enough to get it by guys and to do certain things in certain situations with it,’’ said Arrieta, who can throw his curveball at speeds ranging 7 mph apart and his cut fastball 6 mph apart. ‘‘I have a really good feel for everything.’’ -- Chicago Sun-Times A heavenly homecoming at Wrigley — time to party like it’s 2016 By Steve Greenberg One hundred sixty-two days — that’s how long it will have been since the Cubs’ last appearance at Wrigley Field. A blink of an eye. A blip in time. What’s that compared with, say, 108 years? It’s practically nothing. And yet it’s everything. The changes from then, Game 5 of the World Series, to now, Monday’s banner-raising ceremony and home opener, are many and profound. Needless to say, the Cubs left Wrigley that night trailing the Cleveland Indians three games to two, still chasing the dream of a long-awaited championship, and now they’re the kings of baseball. That’s the mother of all changes. Yet there’s so much more that’s different — to the heart, the mind and the senses. For 162 days ago, Wrigley was enveloped in tension and desperation, terrible stress and guarded optimism, with some part of every Cubs fan still waiting for the worst to happen. When the Cubs won Game 5 to keep the series alive, it was a moral victory, too: At least the dream didn’t die in Chicago. We’ve been unburdened of all that. Isn’t it something? The tension will never again be so high, the stress never again so terrible. By the way, are those good things? Let’s go with 99.9 percent “yes,” but Monday will be — amid one hell of a celebration — the ceremonial burying of a certain romance that can’t ever fully return to Cubdom. “Wait ’til next year”? It’s not really a thing anymore. But wait ’til last year’s feelings bubble back up as that banner rises — there will be cheers and tears all over again, and then it’ll be back to baseball and on to defending a title. Serious business will be at hand. The spirit of 2016 will begin to dissipate ever so slightly, if it hasn’t already. “I think we’ve already kind of started the next chapter,” pitcher Jake Arrieta said. “But it’s kind of a flashback for us, with Monday and [Wednesday’s ring ceremony] on the horizon. I think it’s just one final moment to put a stamp on our 2016 season.” If that doesn’t sound quite enthusiastic enough for you, know that Arrieta also said that Monday will be “like a playoff atmosphere” and a “blast” for all involved. The Cubs players get it, kind of. Yet how much can they really get it the way your grandmother or your uncle does, or perhaps you yourself do?

Those inside and outside of Wrigley’s walls Monday will cheer for the players, for manager Joe Maddon, for team president Theo Epstein and for America’s Guest — yes, David Ross — who will throw out the first pitch and make like Harry Caray during the seventh-inning stretch. But here’s hoping that, as they croon along with “Grandpa,” many will have a thought for Harry himself, who never did get to wave his beer-spattered microphone back and forth before the crowd of a World Series champion in Chicago. So let him hear you, good and loud. While you’re at it, let Ernie Banks and Ron Santo hear you, too. They belong in this moment as much as anyone. Remember the words of Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo at Grant Park last November: “Every person that has worn this jersey won the World Series with us.” In a sweet sense, all the Cubs fans who didn’t live long enough to see this moment did, too. Cheer so loud that you wake ’em all up. When you think about it, it’s a shame the Cubs didn’t win the World Series at Wrigley. Wasn’t that always the biggest dream of all? But this celebration will have to do. It’ll be one more — one final — taste of 2016, after which things won’t ever be exactly the same. That’ll be true no matter how many more times the Cubs win it all. So enjoy it. Drink it in. Get filthy in it. It definitely won’t suck. -- Daily Herald Pitchers to get look at new Wrigley Field bullpens By Bruce Miles MILWAUKEE -- When the Chicago Cubs come home Monday for the Wrigley Field opener, their pitchers will be warming up in a new bullpen. As part of the Wrigley Field renovations, the bullpens have been moved from foul territory down the left-field and right-field lines to under the bleachers. The Cubs' bullpen will be under the left-field bleachers, with the visitors occupying the pens under the right-field bleachers. Cameras in the bullpens will allow the managers, fans and media to see who is warming up. "When I see it, I'll know," manager Joe Maddon said. "I think from the pitchers' perspective, they'll be shielded a little bit more, more controlled than the elements might be. I just want to see it. I'm curious. Is there the room, the flexibility within it for the player himself? "Zero impact for me. I'm just hoping they (the pitchers) are fine with it. I'm sure they will be. I'm curious to see the depth of the ceiling, the height, the comfort component of it." Jon Lester, who starts Opening Night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, will be the first Cubs pitcher to warm up in the new pen before a game. "I actually think that the bullpen move is going to help us with all the stuff," he said Sunday. "You're kind of separated from things. You're in a tunnel. You're away from everybody. It's more of just a mutual warmup. You don't get to really see what's going on.

"Now it's more about timing. Make sure you stay on time and ready for the game." Historical award for Schwarber: Left fielder Kyle Schwarber was honored Saturday by the Middletown (Ohio) Historical Society with the 2017 History Maker Award. Schwarber's home city is Middletown. The award cites Schwarber for the 2016 Cubs world championship. "It means a lot to be able to be recognized in your hometown by the Historical Society," he said. "It's something you want to do for your hometown -- you want to make them proud and give them something to cheer for. For them to recognize me with that, to formally put it down as something the city is proud of, that's that it's all about. "You want to be a role model. You want to be a leader." Of course, Schwarber could not be on hand for the dinner and awards ceremony, so his sister and brother-in-law accepted for him. According to the Historical Society, Schwarber donated an autographed hat for a silent auction and an autographed World Series baseball for the Society's collection. This and that: After going hitless in the three games at St. Louis, Kris Bryant had hits in all three games against the Brewers, totaling 7 hits … Addison Russell has hit safely in five of six games. … Ben Zobrist had a homer Sunday. He is 17-for-51 (.333) with 4 doubles, 2 homers, 6 RBI and 11 walks in 14 games at Miller Park. -- Daily Herald Chicago Cubs' Arrieta strikes out 10 in win over Brewers By Bruce Miles MILWAUKEE -- The radar gun may not lie, but it doesn't always tell the whole truth. And, truth be told, Jake Arrieta isn't worried about it either way. Arrieta won his second decision of the season in 2 starts Sunday as he and his Chicago Cubs teammates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-4 at Miller Park. The Cubs took two of three in the series as they did in St. Louis in the opening series of the season. They come home Monday night for the Wrigley Field opener. As for Arrieta, he may not be throwing 96-, 97-, 98-mph, but he still struck out 10 Brewers while walking only two. He worked 7 innings of 3-hit, 3-run ball to run his record to 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA. "Everybody wants to talk about this," he said of velocity. "There are FanGraphs articles. I don't care about that. I know that kind of stuff can come and go from time to time. I had periods last year where I was at the same spot I'm at right now. I had one in June, near the all-star break. "It is what it is. I still have a good feel for everything. Movement is really good." Most important, the command is good for Arrieta, who has 42 wins since the start of his 2015 Cy Young season.

"When the 95-97 comes back, it's going to be tough for teams, and it still is," he said. "Where I am now in my career I don't worry about it because I know that I'm smart enough to work around that, and the velocity is still good enough to get it by guys and to do certain things in certain situations with it." Manager Joe Maddon likes this Arrieta look. "Great command of his fastball and a really good curveball," Maddon said. "Ten punchouts and about 100 pitches is really efficient, too. He was really on top of his game today. And I love the delivery. I love the command. That's the thing. He didn't hit 95 or 96 or whatever, but he knew where the fastball was going. I much prefer that over velocity." Arrieta's teammates staked him to a 4-0 lead in the first inning against Zach Davies by sending nine men to the plate. Addison Russell had a 2-run double, and Jason Heyward followed with a 2-run triple. After a down year at the plate in 2016, Heyward is off to a 7-for-21 start. "Just try to go up there and be aggressive in the strike zone," he said. "Put a good swing on the ball and see what happens after that." Heyward had an RBI single in the seventh and was robbed at the wall in center field in the ninth on a leaping catch by Keon Broxton, a play that prompted Heyward to tip his helmet to Broxton. The Cubs scored 11 runs on 17 hits in Saturday's victory. They picked up 11 hits Sunday, with more hard-hit balls than they had the previous night. Kyle Schwarber led off the second with a home run, and Ben Zobrist homered in the seventh. The Brewers had pulled within 5-3 in the third on a 3-run homer by Ryan Braun. All in all, the Cubs will take a 4-2 road trip to start the season. "Coming out of spring training, going to Houston for a couple of days, spending a week in St. Louis with days off and coming here and playing well, you could just see the attitude of our guys," Maddon said. "They were definitely ready to play today on a Sunday day game, wanting to go home with winning two series. I thought we did a great job." -- Daily Herald Big things planned for Chicago Cubs' first two home games By Bruce Miles MILWAUKEE -- The Chicago Cubs spent half of February and all of March in Arizona. They then spent the opening week of the 2017 season on the road in St. Louis and Milwaukee. They finally return to Wrigley Field on Monday night, and even though the baseball season will be more than a week old, they'll start over again on Opening Night. It's not just any Opening Night -- or opening week. The Cubs will raise their 2016 world-championship banner before Monday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After an off-day Tuesday, the festivities continue Wednesday night when the Cubs will be presented with their World Series rings by fans who won a contest.

"A big part of what we do is for the fans," manager Joe Maddon said Sunday. "They will be out in force. It's going to be raucous. It's going to be a party for them. I love it. Our fans deserve it. They waited a long enough time. "The reaction has been beyond spectacular. So, yeah, I am looking forward to seeing the fan reaction. Every place you go, more than anything you hear is 'thank you.' That's what you hear, and you feel like, 'come on.' I have not been around long enough there to know exactly the depth of it, but I'm learning. I'm really happy for the fans." To paraphrase Yogi Berra, there's deep depth with Cubs fans when it comes to their team. First baseman Anthony Rizzo has been a Cub since the losing days of 2012. He knows something of the depth of the fans' feelings after last year's World Series win. "I think it's exciting," he said. "The reaction we got after we won it all last year, I don't think I'll ever be able to see that again or emulate that again in any sport. Images you'll never forget. Memories you'll never forget. Tomorrow will be no different. People are going to be excited for that banner to go up. "We're excited about it, too, but everybody wants us to repeat, so we've got to focus on winning today, and tomorrow." As for the rings, Maddon said he had "zero" input on the design, "which is good because I'm not a good jewelry guy." The players were asked for their input about the design of the rings. "It's going to be cool to hold it," said outfielder Jason Heyward. "There's a lot of history in it. There's a lot of our history in it with the 2016 season. It'll be an awesome thing. It's one of those things I personally won't be able to describe until it happens." Players said they are unsure how much they will wear the ring. "I have no idea how much I'll wear it," Heyward said. Pitcher Jon Lester will be getting his third ring. He has two from his days with the Boston Red Sox. "I don't know, the ones have now, I don't wear much," he said. "I wear them to special occasions. We've got the Bricks and Ivy thing (special event) coming up in a couple of weeks. I'm sure a lot of guys will wear it to that to show a lot of fans and sponsors who will want to see it. I don't wear mine that often." -- Daily Herald Imrem: Ricketts stays true to his word on Chicago Cubs By Mike Imrem As the Chicago Cubs come home Monday night as World Series champions, it's a good time to salute the man most responsible for their success. Tom Ricketts, that is. Shortly before closing on the purchase of the club in 2009, the Cubs' chairman met in Wrigley Field with three of us from the Daily Herald. Let's review a few of Ricketts' remarks from that conversation. Q. Will you be hands-on?

A. Hands-on, yes, from the standpoint of being out in the stands talking to folks, being a part of the game from the fan perspective. Hands-off to the extent that player decisions have to be made by people you've hired to make player decisions. Update: Ricketts has interacted with fans in Wrigley Field during bad times and now good times while permitting his baseball department to function. Q. What's the long-term viability of the ballpark? A. The good news about Wrigley Field is that the infrastructure, the kind of "bones" of the stadium, are in good shape. It is 100 percent the intention of me and the family to preserve and improve Wrigley Field … I don't think you'll see us move, ever. Update: Ownership stuck to that vow despite conflicts with the city, local residents and rooftop owners across Waveland and Sheffield. Q. Will we notice a difference in Wrigley Field in five years? A. Even if you come back every Opening Day and look around and say, "Oh, there's something new that wasn't here last year" … that's the really big challenge from the ownership chair, prioritizing those things, seeing what the stadium looks like in five to seven years and figure out a way to really execute (the renovation plan). Update: Something new could be seen at Wrigley Field each of the past couple of years, from expanded bleachers to additional advertising signage to the relocated bullpens, with more to come. Q. Is a Jumbotron coming to Wrigley Field? A. If we can figure out a way to get a little more electronic with fans in the stadium, we'll look at that. … We think we can maintain competitiveness of the team without a Jumbotron and huge in-stadium signage. Update: Videoboards hover over the left-field and right-field walls. Q. Will the name of the ballpark change? A. We're not looking at any naming-rights things right now … Down the line, I won't say that it will never happen, that we won't look at some extra sponsorship around the name. Update: Sarcastically speaking, the White Sox beat the Cubs to "Guaranteed Rate Field." Q. Do you have plans to hire a "baseball man"? A. There are no plans for that. Update: Then along came Theo Epstein. Q. Will you improve working conditions for players? A. In the context of a larger redesign, yes, there is stuff that can be done … One of the things I think is important is you want to have a place where players want to play. Update: Cubs players love their new disco clubhouse with a party room where the Kardashians would feel comfortable unwinding. Q. Can you picture yourself as the owner when the Cubs win the World Series? A. I'm not sure I've pictured myself there yet.

Update: All Ricketts had to do was take a selfie with the World Series trophy last autumn. Overall, Tom Ricketts' has been (mostly) true to his 2009 word. -- Cubs.com Arrieta strikes out 10, wins 100th Cubs start By Carrie Muskat and Adam McCalvy MILWAUKEE -- Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist, Jason Heyward and Jake Arrieta made sure the Cubs would have a nice drive home to Chicago down Interstate 94. Schwarber and Zobrist each smacked solo homers while Heyward drove in three runs to back Arrieta, who continued his April magic in leading the Cubs to a 7-4 victory on Sunday to capture the series over the Brewers at Miller Park. Making his 100th career start as a Cub, Arrieta struck out 10 over seven innings for his 13th career double-digit strikeout game and his ninth straight win in the month of April. Since the beginning of the 2015 season, Arrieta leads the Major Leagues with 42 wins. If you followed the radar-gun readings, Arrieta's velocity was around 91-92 mph, and that was OK with Cubs manager Joe Maddon. "I love it, actually," Maddon said. "His delivery and location and pitchability was outstanding. I'd much rather see what we saw today than 94, 95 [mph] all over the map, absolutely." Arrieta knows the drop in velocity from a year ago is a hot topic. "Everybody wants to talk about it -- I don't care about that," Arrieta said. "I know I'm smart enough to work around that, and the velocity is still good enough to get it by guys and do certain things in certain situations with it." His outing wasn't perfect, as Ryan Braun hit his third career homer off Arrieta in the third inning -- the Brewers' last hit before Domingo Santana's solo homer with two outs in the ninth. Braun is now 7-for-21 with three home runs in his career against Arrieta. "I think he would probably say he wasn't at his best today, and he still dominated us," Braun said. "That speaks volumes to how good he is." Schwarber connected in the second inning off Brewers starter Zach Davies, launching a 2-1 pitch 427 feet to straightaway center and off the scoreboard for his second homer of the season. According to Statcast™, the exit velocity was 107 mph and the ball went out in 4.9 seconds. Schwarber is definitely digging his role as leadoff hitter. He began the day ranked first in the National League in pitches per plate appearance. Zobrist homered with two outs in the seventh, as the Cubs reached double digits in hits for the second straight game. They would've had more, but Keon Broxton robbed Heyward of a potential extra-base hit with a leaping catch at the wall in center to end the ninth. Heyward tipped his helmet to Broxton after the play. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Web gem: Braun not only kept the Brewers in the game with his homer, but he helped stop the Cubs in the second with a great catch. The Cubs had two on with two outs when Heyward lined a ball to left. Braun dove and snared it in the air in the gap to end the inning. It was impressive, especially considering Braun missed Saturday's game because of tightness in his lower back.

"If I didn't feel like I had an opportunity to perform and ultimately to help us win a game, I wouldn't be playing," Braun said. "I was moving around OK. Obviously, that ended up being a play that didn't have a huge outcome on the game, but at the time, it was a big play." Quick start: The Cubs jumped on Davies quickly by sending nine batters to the plate in the first. Chicago loaded the bases with one out, and Addison Russell smacked the first pitch he saw to center for a two-run double. Heyward followed suit, driving the first pitch from Davies to right-center and plating a pair. Davies needed 34 pitches to get through the inning. Heyward, trying to come back after batting .230 last year, has a hit in all five games this season. "I talked to him a little [Saturday], and not as a pep talk but to reinforce him," Maddon said. "I told him, 'You look really good, just keep trusting what you're doing.' I think it's outstanding.'" QUOTABLE "We don't really know what to expect. There's a lot of guys who don't have long track records. There's a lot of guys with tremendous upside. I think we've seen some good things, we've seen some bad things, and I would imagine we'll continue to see some of both of those things as we move forward." -- Braun, on whether the Brewers can draw any conclusions from their 2-5 opening homestand "Who knows? I'll put that thing on Wednesday and I might change my mind." -- Arrieta, on whether he'll wear his World Series ring a lot. He said no, but he may reconsider. SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Since beginning the season 0-for-14, Chicago's Kris Bryant is now 7-for-13 in his last three games. He followed a three-hit game on Saturday with another on Sunday, the third time he has had back-to-back three-hit games in his young career. STRUGGLING AT THE TOP Leadoff man Jonathan Villar was a sparkplug for the Brewers last season, but he is off to a sluggish start to 2017. Besides an error in the field that led to an unearned run, he finished 0-for-4 Sunday, including strikeouts in each of his three times up against Arrieta, giving Villar 15 strikeouts in 30 at-bats to start his season. That's a pace of 347 whiffs. Mark Reynolds holds the Major League record with 223 strikeouts in '09. "The strikeouts, we have to get that under control," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "It's too high right now, and he's struggling a little bit. Defensively, we've talked about it; it's a work in progress, and we just have to keep working at it." WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: The Cubs finally get to come home to Wrigley Field on Monday, opening a three-game series against the Dodgers. The championship banners will be raised before the game. Jon Lester gets the start. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. "It'll be 'playoff-esque,'" Maddon said of the anticipated reception. Brewers: After taking Monday off, the Brewers begin a stretch of 16 games in as many days on Tuesday in Toronto, where they will play in the Blue Jays' home opener. Wily Peralta will start the 6:07 p.m. CT affair, trying to build on a streak of 14 consecutive scoreless innings dating to last season. -- Cubs.com Early hitting results encouraging for Heyward By Carrie Muskat

MILWAUKEE -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon is not getting involved in Jason Heyward's hitting mechanics, but he did take time on Saturday to talk to the outfielder. "He knows we support him," Maddon said. "I talked to him a little, and not as a pep talk but to reinforce him. I told him, 'You look really good, just keep trusting what you're doing.'" Heyward did look good on Sunday, driving in three runs in the Cubs' 7-4 victory over the Brewers at Miller Park. He hit a two-run triple in the first and an RBI single in the seventh, and he should've had another extra-base hit in the ninth, but Keon Broxton made a leaping catch at the wall in center field. Was the ball going to clear the fence? "I don't know," Broxton said. "I know I had to jump pretty high to go get it." Heyward tipped his batting helmet after the catch. Even Broxton can see a difference in Heyward. "I can tell he's swinging it well, not even by the hard contact he made but by seeing the balls he's 'spitting on,'" Broxton said. "It's a lot different from what we saw last year, that's for sure." That's what Heyward and the Cubs are hoping for. He batted .230 in his first season in Chicago, and he moved to Arizona to spend the offseason working on his swing with hitting coaches John Mallee and Eric Hinske at the Cubs' complex. "I'm relaxed up there, not thinking a whole lot," Heyward said of his approach now. "I'm really trying to focus on what the pitcher's going to do, how they're going to attack you, that kind of stuff, and not thinking about the swing or anything like that, which is where you need to be as a hitter. Go up there and do that and be aggressive in the strike zone, be on time, relax and go up there one pitch at a time, one at-bat at a time -- same stuff as anybody else who is trying to do well." Maddon likes what he has seen, too. "I like where his hands are positioned, I like that his hands are more involved now," Maddon said. "He's staying through the ball longer. I've seen a natural progression through the beginning of camp. I like the setup to begin with. I thought it was entirely different than what I'd seen in the past. "I also want him to be patient with it. You're not going to see results overnight. Everybody wants to pour water on it and have it turn into what they want." Heyward now has a hit in each of the five games he has played. He knows he still has work to do. "I just go up there and let the game take care of itself, hit it hard, try to hit it hard, and see what happens," Heyward said. "You know it's not going to be perfect." -- Cubs.com Holy Bow: Banner night for Cubs at Wrigley! By Carrie Muskat As eager as the Cubs are to see their World Series championship rings on Wednesday, they first will raise the banners on Monday night at the home opener. It's a coronation more than a century in the making. "I love banner raising," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "Rings are wonderful, but I love banner raising. That's symbolically there all the time. Every time a kid shows up at the ballpark, he'll see that banner. Hopefully, we'll be able to hang more."

The next two games against the Dodgers will be the last official celebrations of the 2016 season, when the Cubs won their first World Series since 1908 in an exciting seven-game series against the Indians. You'll know these two games are unprecedented: The Cubs will be wearing gold-lettered uniforms Monday and Wednesday. "It's really a special time," said Maddon, whose Cubs enter on a two-game winning streak after Sunday's 7-4 victory in Milwaukee. "Like anything else, I'd encourage my guys to slow it down, take those mental snapshots, enjoy it, don't let it happen too quickly. This is good, you celebrate achievement. For all those different reasons, I am looking forward to it and will tell myself to enjoy it." First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT, but the banner-raising festivities are set to begin at 6:15 p.m, and will be streamed live on MLB.com. The game will also be broadcast on ESPN. Jon Lester, who started Game 1 of the National League Division Series, the NL Championship Series vs. the Dodgers and the World Series, will begin the homestand as Cubs fans have their first chance to salute the defending champs since the parade last November in downtown Chicago. The lefty was touched by some of the stories he heard of Cubs fans, including one about a man who sat at his father's grave during a World Series game to listen to it on the radio. "That resonated pretty hard for me," Lester said. "That was a pretty cool moment that these fans shared with their family members, that they've had so many years of heartache, and we were able to give them the championship that this city deserves." Ben Zobrist's wife, Julianna, will sing "God Bless America," the Cubs' owners, the Ricketts family, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and Hall of Famers Fergie Jenkins, Ryne Sandberg and Billy Williams will lead the crowd in the seventh-inning stretch. Besides the bunting on the upper deck and some new photos in the home clubhouse, the Cubs will also get their first look at some of the changes done at Wrigley Field during the renovation. The bullpens are now located under the bleachers, not along the foul lines. That will be a dramatic change for long-time fans, such as "Front Row Phil" and the lady who brings Cheez-It crackers to bullpen catcher Chad Noble. "You have regulars there who feel they were a part of the team," bullpen coach Lester Strode said. Having the bullpen tucked away may help, Lester said. He won't be on the field for the festivities, but in a neutral setting. "That's the downside to it -- you feel you're in the game, in the action [sitting outside]," reliever Justin Grimm said. "The positives, we'll stay warmer when it's cold and cooler when it's hot. We won't have to run in and out of the clubhouse [to go to the bathroom]. For me, all I really care about is the mound good and warming up and getting it going." Maddon has invited Don Zimmer's widow, Soot, to Opening Night. Zimmer was the Cubs' manager from 1988-91, and a consultant with the Rays when Maddon was in Tampa Bay from 2006-14. He passed away in June '14 at the age of 83. "I don't think 'Soot' has missed an Opening Day, and I did not want it to happen this year," Maddon said. The evening will no doubt be a slightly different setting from 1909, when the Cubs celebrated their World Series triumph over the Detroit Tigers from the previous fall. In that followup season, the Cubs finished second out of eight NL teams with a record of 104-49. Much like the 2017 Cubs, the 1909 team retrurned the core of its championship squad, minus veteran catcher Johnny Kling, who led the North Siders to three straight pennants from 1906-08. In an odd twist, Kling had been crowned world pocket billiards champion in 1908, requested a leave of absence from the club, opened a pool hall in Kansas City and sat out the title-defense campaign.

After Monday's festivities, the Cubs have an off-day Tuesday to get settled, then one more party as they receive their World Series rings on Wednesday. "It's going to be fun," Kris Bryant said. "It'll be fun Wednesday to get that out of the way and turn the page on last season. I'm so excited to get my ring and show it off. I can't wait." -- Cubs.com Banner-raising Cubs ring in Wrigley opener By Ken Gurnick and Carrie Muskat The Cubs won the National League pennant last year by beating the Dodgers, who will be reminded of that six-game outcome Monday when the Cubs will raise their championship banners before Chicago's 2017 home opener and the start of a three-game series with Los Angeles at Wrigley Field. "They'll be out in force, it's going to be raucous, it's going to be a party for them -- I love it," manager Joe Maddon said of the reception the Cubs will receive from their fans. "Our fans deserve it, they've waited a long enough time. The reaction has been spectacular." Jon Lester, who started Game 1 of the NL Division Series, the NL Championship Series and the World Series, will begin the homestand as Cubs fans have their first chance to salute the defending champs since the parade last November in downtown Chicago. After Monday's festivities, the Cubs have an off-day Tuesday to get settled, then one more party as they receive their World Series rings on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his club isn't exactly looking forward to the celebration. "Is it inspiring to see? No," he said. "I think it's great for the Cubs and great for their fans, and it's been a long time coming. But for our guys to be on the line for 45 minutes to watch the rings when it's 40 degrees, I don't know how inspiring that will be." Things to know about this game • The left-handed Lester could be bad news for the Dodgers, who were 22-24 against lefties last year. They were 0-2 against them this year before beating the Rockies and southpaw Tyler Anderson, 10-6, on Sunday. • The Dodgers start left-hander Alex Wood, a substitute for Rich Hill, who went on the 10-day disabled list with recurring finger blisters. Wood threw two scoreless innings of relief in his only appearance this year. • The Cubs were 4-3 against the Dodgers in the regular season last year before winning the NLCS in six games. The Dodgers lead the all-time series record 1,045-1,034-14. -- Cubs.com Heyward, Rizzo helped design WS rings By Carrie Muskat MILWAUKEE -- Jason Heyward wouldn't say if he picked how many diamonds will be on the Cubs' World Series ring, but he was involved in the design, as were other players. They'll see the final product on Wednesday during pregame ceremonies at Wrigley Field. "It's going to be cool to hold it," Heyward said on Sunday. "There's a lot of history in it, of course. There's a lot of our history in it as well with the 2016 season. It'll be an awesome thing. It's one of those things I personally won't be able to describe until it happens."

Heyward offered some input regarding the Cubs' logo, saying it should be from the 2016 team rather than using something from the franchise's past. "There were other questions," Heyward said. "There were a lot of things that have sentimental value to us, the players and everybody involved with the Cubs and the fans to show our appreciation and pay homage to the tradition of the organization and baseball and sports. "We all said our part. I don't know how many people got to see it." Cubs manager Joe Maddon wasn't involved with the ring design. "Zero, which is really good because I'm not a good jewelry guy," Maddon said. "I don't know what's good or not good, I just know what I like. Thankfully, they didn't ask me anything." Anthony Rizzo was involved, and he didn't want to reveal any details. "It's definitely special," Rizzo said. Worth noting • Having the bullpens moved under the bleachers at Wrigley Field may help, Jon Lester said. It'll keep him sheltered from all the hoopla surrounding Opening Day on Monday. "That might help the situation a little bit," Lester said on Sunday. "You hear it, but you probably won't be able to see much of it. I guess that will help you focus on what you want to do and you don't get too amped up." -- ESPNChicago.com Welcome to the new (and improved?) Wrigley: Banner raising starts next Cubs era By Jesse Rogers CHICAGO -- It’s finally here, a day more than 108 years in the making. The Chicago Cubs usher in a new era Monday, when the team returns to Wrigley Field for the first time since Game 5 of the 2016 World Series. They won that one and two more in Cleveland to break the longest championship drought in professional sports history, and now every visitor to the historic stadium will be reminded of that fact. “Rings are wonderful, but I love banner raising,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said over the weekend. “That’s symbolically there all the time. Every time a kid shows up at the ballpark, he sees that banner. Hopefully, we’ll be able to see more.” The Cubs are off to a slightly slower start in 2017, but nothing will take away their magical season of a year ago. As the team on the field transformed, so did the ballpark they play in. It’s being upgraded over a five-year plan, which began with a new home clubhouse. In order to add more seats, the iconic bullpens along the right- and left-field foul lines have been moved beneath the bleachers. The lovable losers are now a money-making machine off the field and world champions on it. “There is good and bad about it,” reliever Justin Grimm said. “No interaction with the fans, but I’ll be under the bleachers like a caged animal.” The increase in seats -- and ticket prices -- is the cost of winning. Beloved for so many years as losers, the Cubs are turning into the model franchise for sustained success.

For ownership and the front office, it’s the culmination of a vision started when Tom Ricketts bought the team in 2009 and accelerated when Theo Epstein came on board a couple years later. World Series MVP Ben Zobrist is a native of Illinois and gets the significance Monday holds. “It’s the dawn of a new era for the Chicago Cubs,” he said. “To be kind of in the middle of it and experience it is really special. That’s why I signed over here.” That's why Jon Lester, who is pitching Monday night, signed, along with John Lackey after him. That's why Maddon wanted to manage in Chicago: to be part of the team that broke the curse. The Cubs don’t get their rings until Wednesday, so the banner raising and unveiling of a new-look ballpark will be the main attractions in the home opener. “It will be cool,” Lester said. “At first, I didn’t understand why they were doing the ring and banner on two different nights, but now I’m kind of glad. I can enjoy Wednesday without pitching. This hasn’t been done at Wrigley in a really long time. It will be fun to be a part of it.” Until now, the players have tried to keep their focus on 2017, but as any championship team will admit, when the banner goes up, memories from the season before return in spades. Maddon wants his team to embrace it, remember it -- even bottle it. Once you get a taste of winning, it is quenched only by doing it again. “It’s really a special time, and I would encourage my guys to slow it down, take those mental snapshots, enjoy it," Maddon said. "Don’t let it happen too quickly." “Understand this is good. We celebrate achievement. I am looking forward to it.” A whole city awaits, and the Cubs are used to the hoopla. “It’s been a whirlwind since we won,” shortstop Addison Russell said. “Get to take home a gold jersey. That’s something you don’t get to tell your parents every day. And we’re ready to get those rings and then go get another one.” It’s the new normal at Wrigley Field. So is the new look of the ballpark. Although Maddon didn’t love the idea of the bullpens going under the bleachers, he and the players are willing to give it a chance. “I will definitely miss being on the sidelines, but I can’t knock it too much,” reliever Mike Montgomery said. “There’ll be some better things about not being on the side, but after experiencing that last year [after being acquired last July], I really liked that. It’ll be hard to beat that. “You get to be into the game. It’s a different vibe when you throw inside. It’s not going to be my favorite, but maybe I’ll end up liking it more.” Winning or losing won’t come down to where the bullpens are located; neither will the results of the previous season. Although the Cubs could be distracted from the task of beating the Los Angeles Dodgers this week, they’ll undoubtedly get a pass from their fans. No matter what happens moving forward, no one can take 2016 away. The magic of a 103-win season and a World Series victory takes center stage again Monday. It might not be the World Series, but it’s a tough ticket to find. “There is something about that feeling in the air,” Zobrist said. “When you see the fans there, the electricity is amazing. I can’t wait. It’s my favorite park. It always has been, and it’s never more true than now.” -- ESPNChicago.com Cubs encouraged by Jason Heyward's progress at the plate By Jesse Rogers

MILWAUKEE -- Leadoff man Kyle Schwarber hit a ball 424 feet Sunday, while reigning National League MVP Kris Bryant had his second consecutive three-hit game and got on base four times. World Series MVP Ben Zobrist also homered, but it was the five at-bats by the Chicago Cubs' right fielder that made for the key storyline coming out of the 7-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Jason Heyward is showing progress. Technically, Heyward was credited with three hard-hit balls, but anyone who watched the game knows it felt more like he went 5-for-5 (according to Statcast, Heyward hit five balls with exit velocity of 95+ MPH; there was only 17 instances of a player hitting a ball 95+ five times in a game last season). Only two fell in for hits, as Heyward was robbed not once, not twice, but three times by the Brewers defense. That was no big deal, since the Cubs won the game and aren't overly worried about results just a few days into the new season anyway. They want to see Heyward have a fighting chance at the plate while his confidence moves in a positive direction. “I like his hands,” manager Joe Maddon said after the game. “I like his hands more involved right now. He’s getting started sooner, staying through the ball longer. “I want him to be patient with it," Maddon continued. "You’re not going to see results overnight. Everyone wants to pour water on something and turn it into what they want.” Maddon made similar comments during spring training, when the results from Heyward's winter swing makeover were slow in coming. After reaching base a few times in the opening series in St. Louis without hitting the ball hard, Heyward has been gaining steam. He sprayed the ball all over Miller Park this weekend, giving hope that his .230 batting average from 2016 is well in the rearview mirror. On Sunday, Heyward said he simply hit his pitch by being "on time." “Strive for perfection, though you know it’s not going to be perfect,” the 27-year-old said of his approach. “Keep it simple, go up there relaxed and take the thinking out.” It’s about the most Heyward will say right now. He simply doesn’t want to dwell on his swing every time he has a good game. But progress is progress, whether he’s hitting Zach Davies, as he did Sunday, or Clayton Kershaw. It doesn’t matter right now. If hitting the ball hard or reaching on soft contact helps his confidence, that’s all that matters. The Cubs are in this for the long haul with Heyward. Maddon expressed as much Saturday, giving Heyward an unsolicited confidence boost. “I said, ‘Man, it's looking good,’” the manager recalled. “Trust yourself, and it’s going to get better.'" During the spring, scouts who watched Heyward had their doubts, though no one thought he was a finished product. He's not one now, either. It’s simply a good start in a game where confidence is half the battle. Heyward has some at the moment, with a .333 batting average after one week, and that could have more meaning than any of us know. “We all know the player that he is, and last year was a complete fluke,” Bryant said. “You’re seeing it now. Five at-bats today, he could have went 5-for-5. He’s been a big factor in our wins early on. It’s nice to see him off to a great start.” An entire fan base would agree. -- ESPNChicago.com So much for Kris Bryant's 'slump' By Jesse Rogers

MILWAUKEE -- No other reigning MVP had gone more at-bats without a hit to start the season than Kris Bryant, but the Chicago Cubs third baseman didn't become discouraged. Self-evaluation is perhaps Bryant's best attribute, and his awareness could explain what led to such a quick turnaround at the plate. It’s why manager Joe Maddon -- as well as Bryant -- showed very little angst when the 25-year-old began the season 0-for-14. After an infield hit Friday, Bryant broke out for three more on Saturday to go with three RBIs in the Cubs' 11-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. The slump is over. “When he goes through a moment like that, you just know he’s going to get hot in the very near future,” Maddon said after the game. It’s what Cubs fans have gotten used to over Bryant’s first two years in the big leagues. No one was surprised to hear he took his opening week struggles in stride. Every out was just motivation for the next at-bat. “I don’t feel anywhere near comfortable up there, but it’s nice to get some hits out of the way,” Bryant said casually at his locker late Saturday. It was just days ago, at the end of spring training, that Bryant declared he was locked in for the start of the season. Even MVPs can be wrong. “The brighter the lights, the guys are throwing harder, their pitches look a little different,” Bryant said of the difference between spring games and regular-season ones. “Start out slow in spring training, adjust. Start out slow in the regular season and adjust. It’s a game of adjustments.” As the MVP goes, so do the Cubs. It wasn’t long ago that Maddon hinted that he thought the Cubs could average five runs a game this season. That’s a lot for a National League team, but after Saturday, they’re approaching that mark -- averaging 4.6. Of course, it took 11 in one night to get them there, which means there wasn’t a ton of offense in the first four games of the season. The Cubs nearly got to five per game last season, and that was without a certain left fielder in the lineup until the World Series. It doesn’t hurt when your pitchers have five hits in five games, including two from Kyle Hendricks on Saturday. Also, their part-time No. 9 hitter, Albert Almora Jr., is hitting .571, so maybe five runs per game is possible. The Cubs did all their damage Saturday without squaring up on a ton of balls. “Those couple bloopers always help,” Maddon said. The Cubs pounded out 17 hits, but some just fell in, while others were hit to the wall. None left the yard, which isn’t a bad thing. There was some baton passing from one player to the next, which was reminiscent of last year’s offense. Plus, the Cubs earned six walks on Saturday -- yet another throwback to 2016. “Hopefully we can turn the page on this whole opening week and play our game,” Bryant said. In other words, the monkey is off his back, as well as the team’s, after they scored just 12 runs in the first four games, all nail-biters. By turning a 4-4 tie into an 11-4 lead Saturday, the Cubs finally had a moment to breathe. Maddon was asked how the mild-mannered Bryant reacts during a slump. Publicly, he’s as cool as they come, but he is human, after all. “You get a little wide-eyed, huffy and puffy and all that stuff,” Maddon said. How did Bryant respond to his struggles? The only way he knows how, the way that earned him Rookie of the Year in 2015 and the MVP award in 2016. He explained it in four words. “Just get more determined,” he said.

Then he finished the thought with the type of advice a veteran might dispense. “This is part of being a big leaguer,” Bryant said. “Knowing that it will turn around -- because it always does.” -- CSNChicago.com Jake Arrieta Fires Back At Questions About His Velocity By Patrick Mooney MILWAUKEE – Jake Arrieta is a nonconformist, trolling opposing fans on Twitter, developing his own Pilates/nutrition program, posing naked for ESPN the Magazine, openly talking about his contract and apparently reading what’s written about him. Or at least this article on FanGraphs – the website devoted to statistical analysis – caught his attention: “What on Earth Happened with Jake Arrieta?” Arrieta speaks in full paragraphs, looks like he could be heading toward the zone that once made him a Cy Young Award winner and dismisses any questions or theories about his low-90s velocity readings. “Everybody wants to talk about this,” Arrieta said after Sunday’s 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. “There’s FanGraph articles. I don’t care about that. “I know that kind of stuff can come and go from time to time. I had periods last year where I was at the same spot I am right now. I had one in June, near the All-Star break. It is what it is. I still have good feel for everything. Movement is really good. The command’s good. “When the 95-to-97 comes back, it’s going to be tough for teams. And it still is.” Manager Joe Maddon put it this way after watching Arrieta use 98 pitches to get through seven innings and finish with 10 strikeouts against only two walks: “I’d much rather see what we saw today than 94-95 (mph) all over the map, absolutely.” Even during an All-Star year that saw him beat the Cleveland Indians twice in the World Series, Arrieta had too many of those unpredictable stretches where he lost command and that air of invincibility. The Cubs staked Arrieta an early five-run lead and he didn’t allow another hit after Ryan Braun’s three-run homer in the third inning. Whatever the radar gun says, Arrieta is starting his salary drive at 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA. “Where I’m at now in my career, I don’t worry about it, because I know that I’m smart enough to work around that,” Arrieta said. “The velocity’s still good enough to get it by guys and to do certain things in certain situations with it. “If I’m commanding the ball on the inside part of the plate to left-handed hitters with some sink – like I was able to with a couple big strikeouts (where they’re) taking third strikes in – that’s a big deal.” In Arrieta’s mind, he has an array of weapons, from a curveball he can drop at 75 or 82 mph, a cutter that can be effective in the right spot at 84 or 90 mph and a changeup that he’s still trying to sharpen. Arrieta’s case for a long-term megadeal that could take him into his late 30s revolves around his baseball IQ, superior conditioning and relatively low pitching odometer. “Some guys would call it like a ‘dead arm,’ but I feel good,” Arrieta said. “That’s all I’m worried about.” --

CSNChicago.com While Cubs Plan Wrigley Celebration, Jason Heyward Is On To New Season And Off To Good Start By Patrick Mooney MILWAUKEE – Jason Heyward projected an all-business vibe on Sunday morning when reporters gathered around his locker inside Miller Park’s visiting clubhouse. Win or lose, Heyward is always accessible, polite and thoughtful, qualities that help insulate him from the pressure of having the biggest contract in franchise history. Even at the end of the worst offensive season of his career, Heyward had enough clout to call that team meeting inside a Progressive Field weight room and refocus the Cubs in Game 7, though he hasn’t really felt like reliving his rain-delay speech: “It’s fine, but it’s on to this season.” Heyward’s in-the-moment attitude also knocked down a softball question about what he’s looking forward to during Monday night’s banner-raising ceremony at Wrigley Field. “Um, what’s our record right now?” Heyward said. “Winning two series on a road trip.” So much for feeling the hangover or looking ahead or getting distracted: One week into defending their World Series title, the Cubs are 4-2 with two walk-off losses, heading home for the 102nd opener at their iconic ballpark and a Wednesday night ceremony where they will get their championship rings. There are several reasons why the 2017 Cubs might be a better team on paper. But this 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers highlighted how Heyward – now hitting .333 with an .820 OPS in an admittedly small sample size – could be so much more than a good clubhouse guy and a defensive wizard in right field. “The reaction we got after winning it all last year, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to see that again in any sport,” All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “It’s images you’ll never forget, memories you’ll never forget. Tomorrow will be no different. People are going to be excited for that banner to go up. “We’re excited about it, too, but everyone wants us to repeat, so we got to focus on winning today and then tomorrow.” Heyward helped set the tone when the Cubs jumped Zach Davies in the first inning, blasting a two-run triple into right-center field and giving Jake Arrieta a 4-0 lead before he threw his first pitch. Heyward’s 2-for-5 might have been a 5-for-5 cycle if: Ryan Braun hadn’t made a diving catch in the left-center field gap in the second inning; second baseman Jonathan Villar hadn’t made a diving stop to his left in the fifth inning; and Keon Broxton hadn’t made a leaping catch at the center-field wall in the ninth inning. Heyward, a four-time Gold Glove winner, tipped his helmet to Broxton as he ran toward second base. “Yeah, it was a good play,” Heyward deadpanned. After a year of bad luck, bad timing and bad rhythm – at least from an offensive point of view – the Cubs watched Heyward break down his swing at the team’s Arizona complex and expect to see the returns on their $184 million investment. “I’m relaxed up there, not thinking a whole lot,” Heyward said. “Just really trying to focus on what the pitcher’s going to do, how they’re going to attack you, that kind of stuff. Not thinking about the swing or anything like that. It’s just where you need to be. “Be aggressive in the strike zone. But be on time, be relaxed and go up there one pitch at a time, one at-bat at a time, the same stuff (for) anybody. Let the game take care of itself.”

Imagine how intimidating this lineup could be if Heyward resembles more of the guy who hit 27 homers for the Atlanta Braves in 2012, which became the template for his new/old swing. Heyward has already seen the blueprint for the championship rings, suggesting the Cubs feature the team’s 2016 logo when asked for his input during the design phase. “I don’t know how much I’ll have it on,” Heyward said. “It kind of goes without being said in Chicago, which is really cool, and for the majority of baseball fans around the world, so I don’t know how much I’ll wear it. I know I’ll cherish it and probably look at it a lot. “It’s just going to be cool to hold it. There’s a lot of history in it, of course, and there’s a lot of our history in it, as well, with the 2016 season. It should be an awesome thing." -- CSNChicago.com What The Wrigley Banner-Raising Ceremony Means To Cubs Ace Jon Lester By Patrick Mooney MILWAUKEE – Like all professional athletes, Jon Lester lives in a bubble, flying on private jets and staying in five-star hotels. Part of this is by design, believing that a focus on process and routine creates a sense of calm, something to fall back on during high-stress situations. This is also someone who owns farmland in Georgia and enjoys disappearing into the woods to go hunting. So while other Cubs have noticed how much their lives have changed since winning the World Series, experienced a different level of celebrity and capitalized on the newfound perks, this is exactly what Lester signed up for when team president Theo Epstein made a $155 million offer he couldn’t refuse. Except for a quick, in-and-out stop at Cubs Convention in January, Lester hasn’t really been in Chicago since the team’s parade down Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue, the Grant Park rally and the post-championship bender. The adrenaline will be surging again on Monday night at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs will raise their 2016 banner above the iconic center-field scoreboard before Lester faces the Los Angeles Dodgers on national TV in a National League Championship Series rematch. “There hasn’t really been a surreal moment,” Lester said before Sunday’s 7-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. “For me, it’s always when you get that tangible thing and you have something in your hand or you see that banner go up. “That’s when it kind of hits home for me. I was a little confused on why we were doing two different days in Chicago for the celebration. (And) now I’m happy we’re doing two days, because then I will get to be a part of the ring stuff on Wednesday. That, for me, will kind of be the surreal moment.” Lester already owns two World Series rings from his time with the Boston Red Sox, but says he doesn’t show off the championship bling often, except for weddings or other special occasions: “They’re kind of so big and gaudy it’s not really fun to wear it sometimes. It’s kind of almost too big, which is a good thing.” Lester’s presence helped transform what had been a fifth-place team for five straight seasons, energizing the clubhouse and signaling the Cubs would be serious about winning and move beyond checking minor-league box scores and talking up the future. During his recruiting trip to Chicago the week before Thanksgiving 2014, Lester told Epstein: “They’re going to burn this city down again when we win the World Series.” “A big part of what we do is for the fans,” manager Joe Maddon said. “They will be out in force. It’s going to be raucous. It’s going to be a party for them. I love it. Our fans deserve it. They waited a long enough time. The reaction has been beyond spectacular.

“Every place you go, more than anything, you hear: ‘Thank you.’” Lester had enough sense of history to choose No. 34 as a tribute to Kerry Wood, Walter Payton and Nolan Ryan and wanted to be part of something like the epic World Series against the Cleveland Indians that ended the 108-year drought. “We all saw the stuff this offseason – the different TV programs about our journey and fans and just how much it meant to those people,” Lester said. “The one that hit home was a guy that sat at his dad’s grave for the entire game and listened to (Game 7) on the radio and just his emotions through the whole game. That resonated pretty hard for me. “That was a pretty cool moment that these fans shared with their family members – who have been through so many years of heartache – to finally win and give these people the championship that the city deserves.” Even someone who spent nine years in the Fenway Park fishbowl and pitched in 14 playoff series still feels the butterflies. Moving the bullpens to underneath the bleachers means more revenue for the Cubs and tunnel vision for Lester. “There’s a lot of things going on, a lot of distractions,” Lester said. “But I actually honestly think that the bullpen move is going to help us with all this stuff. You’re kind of separated from things. You’re in a tunnel. You’re away from everybody. You don’t get to really see what’s going on. “Obviously, when you get out there for first pitch, it’s going to be a little different. But as far as the festivities leading up to that point, I feel like that new bullpen’s going to kind of help combat all those emotions.” -- Chicago Tribune Cubs' World Series celebration set to resume with Monday's home opener By Paul Sullivan It’s another good week to be Tom Ricketts. On Friday, the Cubs chairman partied at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, watching friend and Cubs fan Eddie Vedder get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of Pearl Jam. On Monday, he’ll take part in ribbon cutting ceremonies for the new Wrigley Field plaza, then throw out a ceremonial first pitch with his siblings at the home opener and watch the championship banner being raised. On Wednesday, Ricketts will be rewarding his employees with championship rings for a job well done. Hopefully he can sneak a nap in on Thursday. As the Cubs prepare for two more days of celebrating their 2016 World Series title, Ricketts gets a chance to take a bow for making almost all the right moves to lead to a championship. The first and most important one was finding the right person to execute the rebuild in 2011 and giving him the space and resources to do it the right way, through extensive scouting and quality instructors at all levels of the organization. President Theo Epstein — who also attended the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday to celebrate the career of Vedder, his longtime friend — was Ricketts’ first choice to take over the Cubs after firing Jim Hendry in the summer. A fortunate occurrence for the Cubs happened when the Red Sox flopped in the end and Epstein was not seeing eye-to-eye with his bosses. Ricketts knew immediately after their first meeting he didn’t need to interview anyone else, and Epstein took the plunge before anyone could talk him out of it. Epstein went out and convinced his friends and Boston teammates Jed Hoyer and Jason McLeod to join him on the journey, and now all three are part of history.

So how long will they stay together? Epstein knows it won’t last forever. “Jason will definitely be a GM,” he said. “It’s just a matter of waiting for the right opportunity. Jed is a GM, and whether it’s me leaving and running (the Cubs) by himself someday or finding the right opportunity elsewhere, I’m sure that’s going to happen again. “But for right now, we’re happy working together, the three of us. Who would want to leave this place right now? Incredible ownership, so supportive and so patient. The best facilities, an incredible group of young players we get to work with on a daily basis. When you look forward to coming to work every day, you shouldn’t be thinking about leaving, because it’s hard to find nd that.” Epstein was out at the Cubs plaza with his son on Sunday morning, checking out the new park and marveling at all the office space he and the front office employees will have on the fourth floor of the new office building. The ground floor will be open Monday, including the Starbucks, Trophy Room and a Cubs store, but the Cubs’ employees won’t be making the move to the building until later this spring. By that time, the 2016 party may officially be over. Maybe. -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon tries to keep Cubs' schedule, emotions in check ahead of home opener By Mark Gonzales Monday night’s pregame festivities will cause the Cubs’ players to move up their pregame schedules well in advance of the 7:08 p.m. first pitch. But manager Joe Maddon believes he’s put his players in a position to clear their minds and concentrate solely on baseball even after they witness the raising of the World Series banner. “We really try to avoid laying anything else out there,” said Maddon, mentioning that he conducted a preseason meeting well before the first game on April 2 at St. Louis. “I take care of our stuff in advance and try to normalize things. When the guys come in, everything appears like it could be the middle of May, the middle of June, whatever. Outside of getting on the lines and being out there a little earlier, I want to believe we’ll react to it OK. “I might be underestimating how guys will feel. But I have a lot of faith the way we do things. I want to believe they’ll get into the spirit of it and channel it properly.” Opening night starter Jon Lester is happy the bullpen was moved to under the left field bleachers to allow him to concentrate on his start and not get wrapped up in the pregame hoopla. And now he appreciates that the Cubs will hold their ring ceremony on Wednesday night, when John Lackey takes the mound. “I was a little confused why we were doing two different days in Chicago for the celebration,” said Lester, referring to the raising of the World Series banner on Monday night and the ring ceremony on Wednesday night. “And now I’m happy we’re doing two days because now I’ll be able to see (the ring ceremony) on Wednesday. “That will be the surreal moment. I saw the stuff this offseason - TV programs, TV things about the journey and fans and how much it meant to those people.”

Maddon did acknowledge the atmosphere will be sort of “playoff-esque,” although Jason Heyward said the season opener at St. Louis and the first game at Milwaukee presented a similar setting. -- Chicago Tribune Cubs seek to continue Wrigley Field dominance during Monday's home opener By Mark Gonzales The bunting along the upper-deck rails around Wrigley Field and the raising of the championship banners will provide an emotionally satisfying experience Monday night for the Cubs and their fans commemorating their first World Series title since 1908. "I better get there on time," manager Joe Maddon quipped Sunday after the Cubs' 7-4 victory against the Brewers. "I don't know what roads to take." As soon as the Cubs take the field for their home opener against the loaded Dodgers, they will turn their focus to once again dominating at Wrigley Field. "We took advantage of it last year," Ben Zobrist said. "We anticipate more of that this year. I know visiting teams don't look forward to coming to Wrigley. So it's a good thing, not just because of our fans and the atmosphere that our fans provide for a visiting team. It's because we're good and play well there." The Cubs earned home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs, thanks to 103 victories, including a major league-leading and franchise-record 57 wins at Wrigley — where they averaged near-capacity crowds of 39,906 in 81 dates. "It's big for us," said Kyle Hendricks, who was 9-2 with a major league-low 1.32 home ERA, second best in Wrigley history. "Having that home-field advantage in the playoffs was huge." Hendricks pitched 7 1/3 innings of two-hit ball to blank ace Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers in the clinching game of the 2016 NL Championship Series at Wrigley. "Having that setting in the clubhouse helped a lot, and getting back there will feel more like home," Hendricks said. "If we don't get 57 (wins at home), hopefully it's something high up there." Jon Lester will be the first Cubs pitcher to warm up in the new bullpen located under the left-field bleachers before the opener. Lester, who posted a 1.74 ERA in 15 home starts in 2016, said the relocated bullpen will provide a sanctuary for the starting pitcher amid the hoopla of pregame festivities. "I'm just as excited to go home, get my locker situated," Lester said. "It feels like we've been on the road for two months. I'm ready to get there and get underway." A blend of appreciative fans who suffered through decades of unfulfilled hopes combined with enthusiastic newcomers is expected to provide plenty of energy for Monday's opener. "When you have a modern park, there's a tendency (for fans) to go for the comfort," Anthony Rizzo said. "You've got the people who go there for the scene. Then you got the true diehards and the tourists. A lot of visiting teams circle their trips to Wrigley. "But what Mr. (Tom) Ricketts and (President) Theo Epstein have built is something that everyone wants to see — the team, the video boards and the plaza. It's historic to see."

The Cubs home opener will occur nearly eight weeks after their first workout in Arizona. A longer spring training, because of the World Baseball Classic, followed by a pit stop in Houston and six nights in St. Louis have made it seem like an eternity. But Rizzo is ready to be invigorated. "You hear the fans, and it's instant adrenaline," Rizzo said. "It's a good feeling." -- Chicago Tribune At long last, Billy Williams gets his well-deserved World Series ring By Paul Sullivan The story goes that Billy Williams was sitting in a restaurant in Boston with his wife, Shirley, and A's teammates Reggie Jackson and Bill North before the 1975 American League Championship Series The A's were aiming for a four-peat, and Williams, in his first season with them after 16 years with the Cubs, was scheduled to be the designated hitter against the Red Sox in his first playoff game. Williams had hit 23 home runs in what would be the last truly productive season of a Hall of Fame career that would end one year later. He was anxious but ready for his first taste of October. After a lot of laughs and storytelling from three players who definitely had some stories to share, the table got quiet and the conversation suddenly got serious. "Reggie and Bill said to me: 'It's going to be a good series, and we're going to win it for you,'" Williams said. "They said, 'We know you've been in baseball a long time, and we know what you want to do.'" Despite the promises from his friends, Williams didn't get that World Series ring. The Red Sox swept the A's in three games before going on to lose to the Reds in one of the great World Series of all time. Williams played one more season, but the A's didn't make the playoffs in '76, so he never got a chance to play in a World Series, just like Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Fergie Jenkins and many other Cubs teammates. But Monday night, when the Cubs return for the home opener against the Dodgers, Williams — and everyone else — will see a World Series banner raised at Wrigley Field for the first time. And on Wednesday, Williams, the senior adviser to President Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, will finally get that ring in what promises to be an emotional moment. During a work break at Cubs spring training last month in Mesa, Ariz., Williams, 78, said he hadn't seen the ring yet, and didn't care to until it was in his hands. "I've been waiting 50 years to do this," he said. "I heard it's a big one. They had 108 years to prepare for it, so it should be a good ring." It's not like Williams hasn't daydreamed about this a time or two. He was at a Hall of Fame ceremony in Cooperstown in 2015, after the Giants had won the '14 World Series, sitting on the stage with Giants Hall of Famers Gaylord Perry and Juan Marichal. "Then they brought them up front because the Giants had won the World Series," Williams said. "I'm just sitting back thinking what that would be like, to celebrate a World Series at the Hall of Fame, to show off your ring and stuff." Williams will be showing off his ring for the foreseeable future. He has been involved with the Cubs organization in many capacities since retiring from playing — as hitting coach, first-base coach, marketing and now senior adviser.

But you also could add some unofficial titles along the way, including counselor to Sammy Sosa. It was in 2001 that Williams, then the first-base coach, pulled a small American flag from his back pocket and handed it to the Cubs slugger after Sosa homered in the first game back at Wrigley Field after baseball shut down following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Now Williams typically stops by the batting cage or sits in the box with Epstein and Hoyer, sharing his observations on the Cubs or opposing team. Do Epstein and Hoyer ask his opinions? "If they didn't ask, I wouldn't want to do that," he replied. Teams often give former players "advisory" roles, and some of them are just for show. Epstein said Williams' job title isn't just ceremonial. "It's such a great thing for the players and the organization to have Billy around as much as he is," Epstein said. "Billy is a constant presence around the batting cage and has developed meaningful relationships with all the players, especially the position players. "He is a great sounding board and source of support for our young hitters. He's also terrific to watch games with upstairs — telling stories, sharing observations, making comparisons to things he has seen in the past. "He's so humble and approachable that he just seems like one of the guys … then you remind yourself his number is flying on the flagpole out there. There's nobody more deserving of finally getting a ring than Billy. We will all be thrilled and proud for him." Williams was announced last week as a seventh-inning stretch conductor for Monday's home opener, along with Jenkins and Ryne Sandberg, in a reprise of their opening-day performance from last year. "I asked all the fans, 'Are you ready for a fun summer?'" Williams said. "And it was a fun summer." The fall turned out to be pretty good as well, and the championship even made the winter tolerable for Cubs fans. Naturally, Williams doesn't take any credit for the Cubs winning. But he doesn't mind celebrating as though he still was manning left field in the summer of '69, waiting for Hank Aaron's would-be home run to get blown back into the ballpark, then making a catch in the well to preserve Kenny Holtzman's no-hitter. Once a Cub … "I've gotten calls from a lot of players that I played against, calling me and congratulating me," he said. "I didn't do anything. But they knew I played with this organization and they knew how much I wanted a World Series here in Chicago. "To win last year, like we did, you think about Ernie, you think about Santo, two individuals that were my teammates and tried for so many years to bring a World Series to Chicago. And for the people of Chicago who supported this organization for so many years. It was great." Sadly, Banks and Santo, two of Williams' prominent teammates from the 1960s Cubs, passed away before getting a chance to see this happen. Williams was glad that Bill Hands, who died during spring training, got to celebrate the Cubs title. Williams sees a lot of resemblance with the current Cubs team and the ones he played on. The difference, of course, is this team has its championship, while the '69 Cubs blew a division title in spectacular fashion, an albatross hung around the necks of every contending Cubs team since. Until now.

Maybe this title finally will help that generation of Cubs fans get over 1969? "Those people who really were around in '69, they're probably dead and gone now," Williams said with a laugh. "No, a lot of people do remember us. "That team, we're not going to die. As long as I'm here, I'm not going to let us die. We won't be forgotten in Chicago because we were the first team that got this organization, in that era, close to winning." Why was the '69 team beloved over the decades in spite of not winning? It was because of their personalities, because of the memorable stories and perhaps because it reminds so many of when they were young. Now they're all older, presumably wiser and maybe even happier than they were five decades ago. "The one thing I used to hear was, 'Are we going to win in my lifetime?'" Williams said. "So I won't have to answer that question no more." -- Chicago Tribune Jake Arrieta's velocity has diminished, but not his strikeout ability By Mark Gonzales Jake Arrieta struck out 10 in seven innings Sunday without a dominant fastball, so the Cubs workhorse isn't worried when his 95-mph velocity will return. "Everybody wants to talk about this," Arrieta said after the Cubs beat the Brewers 7-4. "There are FanGraphs articles. I don't care about that. I know that kind of stuff can come and go from time to time. There were periods last year where I was at the same spot I am right now. I had one in June near the All-Star break." Arrieta said the effectiveness of his curveball and cut fastball, combined with his efficiency after being staked to a 4-0 lead in the first, allowed him to not rely solely on his fastball, which hovered in the 91-mph range. "When the 95 to 97 comes back, it's going to be tough for teams, and it still is," Arrieta said. One pitch — hit for a three-run home run by Ryan Braun on a hanging cut fastball in the third — has prevented Arrieta from having a 0.00 ERA in his first two starts covering 13 innings. "Where I'm at now in my career, I don't worry about it," Arrieta said. "I'm smart enough to work around that. And the velocity is still good enough to get it by guys and to do certain things in certain situations with it." Manager Joe Maddon seemed content with Arrieta's effectiveness despite the lack of an overpowering fastball. "I just think he's not feeling his velocity yet, but as he stays in this delivery, the velocity shows up," Maddon said. "Even if it doesn't, I'll take that any day of the week over shotgun 94-95 mph." Arrieta improved to 56-21 in 100 career starts with the Cubs. His 2.52 ERA is third lowest among Cubs pitchers in their first 100 starts since 1913. His 646 strikeouts trail only Mark Prior (734) and Kerry Wood (717) after 100 starts. Extra innings: Kris Bryant collected his second consecutive three-hit game and earned back-to-back three-hit games for the third time in his career. ... Ben Zobrist, who hit a homer in the seventh, is 5-for-10 lifetime against Brewers reliever Carlos Torres. ... Cubs relievers have held opponents to a .147 batting average this season. --

Chicago Tribune Cubs' Jason Heyward keeping impressive start in perspective By Mark Gonzales As soon as the Brewers' Keon Broxton leaped near the top of center field fence to make a spectacular catch in the ninth inning Sunday, Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward merely raised his helmet in the direction of Broxton. There was no kicking of the dirt or any sign of frustration as Heyward simply acknowledged Broxton's achievement. For Heyward, there have been enough signs of progress in the seven games of the season to realize that he's put himself in a better position to succeed compared to last season, when he batted only .230 with seven home runs. "I’m not thinking a whole lot," Heyward said after extended his hitting streak to five games with a two-run triple in the first inning of the Cubs' 7-4 win at Milwaukee. "I'm just trying to focus on what the pitcher is trying to do, how they’re going to attack you and not thinking about the swing, just be where you need to be. "Be aggressive in the strike zone, but be on time." The analyzing of the changes in Heyward's stance and swing will continue, but his ability to repeat his stance and swing and hit with authority is a positive development for him and the Cubs. "I like where his hands are positioned," said manager Joe Maddon, a former hitting instructor. "I like that his hands are more involved right now. He’s getting started sooner and staying with the ball longer. I've seen a natural progression from the start of (spring training)." Maddon has warned reporters from the start of spring training that this is an ongoing progress and to not make a judgment on Heyward's swing based on spring training. "You’re not going to see results every night," Maddon said. "Everybody wants to pour water into something and turn into what they want. It doesn’t work that way. "I talked to him even (Saturday). I told him it's looking good, trust yourself, and it’s looking great and it’s going to keep getting better." Heyward is batting .333 (7-for-21) with a .391 on-base percentage. --