The Cubs are preparing for their first appearance in the NLCS since '03, and these are the "giddy days for the Cubs, not just because they are winning," but because everything "feels new and fresh," according to Tyler Kepner of the N.Y. TIMES. The everyday players are "mostly just starting their ascent on the field and up the salary structure." The "hard roster questions -- can they keep this player, and at what cost, before free agency? -- are mostly years away." There are "few, if any, prominent players on the downside." With players like LF Kyle Schwarber, 3B Kris Bryant, 1B Anthony Rizzo, RF Jorge Soler, 2B Addison Russell and SS Javier Baez, "stars in their 20s are everywhere" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/15). ESPN’s Marcellus Wiley said of the Cubs, “They have all this young talent. They have new management. You can see the new blood that is starting to materialize. I am all in with the Cubs” (“SportsNation,” ESPN2, 10/14). In Chicago, Bruce Miles writes Cubs Chair Tom Ricketts and his siblings, who serve as BOD members, "put their faith" in President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein when they hired him in the fall of '11. Epstein last fall told Ricketts that '15 "would not have to be a development year." Ricketts: "I always believe everything Theo says; that's why you hire him" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 10/15).
VERY SUPERSTITIOUS: In Chicago, Sullivan & Kane report the home run ball hit by Schwarber during Tuesday's series-clinching win against the Cardinals currently sits "underneath the small 'I' in the Budweiser sign" that sits atop the right field videoboard. A Cubs source said that the ball will "stay up there, too, until the postseason run has concluded." The Cubs yesterday "tweeted out photos as they put the ball on a stand" around 2:15pm CT and "installed a plexiglass case to preserve it from the elements." There will "be no 24-hour security" for the ball. The source said that the Cubs will "decide what to do with it after the season." Sullivan & Kane write the team "may auction it for charity, though Schwarber likely will be offered the ball." A "Stanley Cup-type tour for fans to take selfies was not ruled out." But MLB Authentication Program Manager Michael Posner said that the league "won’t give the baseball its official seal of authenticity" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/15).
PERFECT TIMING: In Orlando, Brian Schmitz notes Magic Owner Rich DeVos last spring "received a minority stake" in the Cubs from the Ricketts family for "helping the Cubs finance" the $375M renovation of Wrigley Field. Magic Senior VP Pat Williams said, "His timing couldn't be better. They certainly got involved in the right season." Just how much of a stake DeVos has in the Cubs "isn't known" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/15).
