Rest, winter ball on deck for Kyle
Whether Kyle Schwarber is able to leap tall buildings in a single bound by next spring, the Cubs already are preparing the next step for their cult hero beyond the World Series.
Mostly, it involves rest. Then sometime around the eight- month mark since his reconstructive knee surgery in April, he might join a winter- league team to get some at- bats and possibly some time in the field.
Even though Schwarber shocked everyone by returning in time for the World Series, the Cubs don’t seem much closer to knowing whether he will be able to catch again than they were when he was injured 6 ½ months ago.
‘‘ That certainly will be a question that we have to answer,’’ general manager Jed Hoyer said. ‘‘ But I don’t think that’s one to answer yet.’’
The breakthrough of rookie catcher Willson Contreras as a two- way force has influenced the Schwarber- as- catcher narrative.
‘‘ He’s been so good quicker than we thought,’’ Hoyer said of Contreras, who is projected to be the primary starting catcher next season.
But the Cubs and the leftyslugging Schwarber have more urgent things on their minds, even after he was ruled out medically to play in the field this weekend.
‘‘ It was a huge injury, and that’s the facts,’’ said Schwarber, who’s available to pinch- hit until a possible return to designatedhitter duty in potential Games 6 and 7 in Cleveland. ‘‘ Not many people get this opportunity that I’m in right now, so I’m embracing it. I’m going to cheer my teammates on, and when my time comes, I’m going to be ready.’’
Chip sheds a tear
Former Cubs broadcaster Chip Caray stopped at the statue of his grandfather Harry outside Wrigley Field and had a real moment.
‘‘ I’ll be honest, I shed a tear a little bit,’’ said Caray, an Atlanta Braves broadcaster who’s in town hosting Fox- 32’ sWorld Series pregame show. ‘‘ I got kind of emotional walking past my grandfather’s statue. Seeing the green apples and the flowers at the base of it, seeing the faces of these people.
‘‘ Harry used to always say: ‘ They’re the greatest fans in the world. Three million a year come here to watch some awful baseball.’ Well, 3 million have come and watched one hell of a team this year.’’
Harry Caray died in February 1998. The plan had been for Harry and Chip to work together. Instead, Chip became Harry’s replacement. He was in the Cubs’ TV booth until the end of the 2004 season.
‘‘ I’m a Braves fan now— they butter my bread, obviously,’’ Caray said. ‘‘ But once you’re a Cub, you’re always a Cub.’’
Some glove for Javy
John Dewan and Baseball Info Solutions, one of the leading creators of modern fielding metrics, listed two Cubs among their Fielding Bible award winners. The award recognizes the top fielders at each position in the majors.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo wasn’t necessarily a surprise; he’s also a finalist for a National League Gold Glove. But Javy Baez isn’t eligible for a Gold Glove because he wasn’t the primary starter at a single position.
Fielding Bible recognized Baez for its multiposition award, the third year it has recognized that utility spot in 11 years of the awards.
‘‘ That’s outstanding,’’ said manager Joe Maddon, who long has advocated a utility spot in All- Star voting and more recently as a Gold Glove position. ‘‘ He absolutely deserves it. That’s great they’re creating that kind of recognition. That’s very forward thinking, and I love it.’’