In Chicago, David Haugh wrote the Cubs' playoff run, which ended last night with an NLCS Game 4 loss to the Mets, "felt more like an opening act for the Cubs than a curtain closing, like a precursor to future postseasons." Getting swept "exposed what the Cubs lack and showed Chairman Tom Ricketts firsthand it will take another payroll increase to push his team over the top" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/22). Also in Chicago, Barry Rozner notes the Cubs "have six more years -- at worst" -- of 1B Anthony Rizzo, 3B Kris Bryant, LF Kyle Schwarber, SS Addison Russell and SS Javier Baez, while RF Jorge Soler will be with the club for "at least another five" seasons. Cubs manager Joe Maddon: "This is just the beginning for these guys. As our guys learn the game even better ... that's going to be really exciting to watch over the next couple of years" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 10/22). The TRIBUNE's Paul Sullivan in a front-page piece writes Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein "has work to do, but after the stunning success" of '15, he "has built up enough credit in this town to be given the benefit of the doubt for another decade if he wants" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/22).
ALL DOWN THE LINE: In N.Y., Bill Price notes despite a plea from Mets supporters' group 7 Line Army Founder Darren Meenan for fans to "not resell special 7 Line World Series tickets at insane prices, that’s exactly what has happened, with tickets as high as $2,000 each on StubHub." In an email sent Tuesday to any 7 Line customer as of Sept. 4, Meenan "gave out special one-time codes for fans to buy a pair of tickets on the Mets website to each of possible World Series games at Citi Field next weekend" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/22).
NO HOLLYWOOD ENDING: CBSSPORTS.com's Jon Heyman cites sources as saying that the Dodgers and manager Don Mattingly today mutually agreed to "part ways" after five years. Dodgers execs "like Mattingly very much, but it was apparent there wasn't support for the long-term." Sources said that Mattingly "felt he was treated very well" by Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and others, but the two sides "decided it was better to move on." Heyman notes despite making the playoffs three straight seasons, Mattingly "bore the heavy burden of outsized expectations" for a team carrying MLB's highest payroll (CBSSPORTS.com, 10/22).
