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Maddon, Chicago Cubs enjoy welcoming champs to Wrigley

For the third time in six years, a championship team graced Wrigley Field.

The Cubs hope they will be that team before too long. But they were more than happy Tuesday to watch the Chicago Blackhawks parade around the ballpark with the Stanley Cup.

"It's great to have a model franchise like that here in town, where you can observe what they do and through osmosis maybe pick up a thing or two," said Cubs president Theo Epstein, who seems to be well on the way toward putting the Cubs into that category. "Yeah, the more dialogue, the more shared information, the better.

"It's great for them to raise the bar, set the standard for others to try to reach up and match. There can be momentum. In Boston we had one team's championship lead to another and then another and then a fourth. It would be great to create that in this city."

Cubs players seemed more than eager to see the Cup and be photographed with it alongside the Blackhawks on the pitcher's mound before Tuesday night's game against the Cleveland Indians.

Some Cubs players wanted to pick the brains of the Hawks, as well.

"It would be cool to ask questions to guys who have won, consistently," catcher David Ross said. "Winning is, I believe, learned. It would be fun to hear those guys, if we get to hang out with them for a little bit longer.

"Just talk about their definition of winning, why do you think you guys are so consistent? I like to hear what everybody's opinion of winning is. What makes a winner? Is it talent? Is it a mindset? Hard work? Everybody you talk to is different. I have my opinions on why I've won in the past and teams I've been on that have been winners. It's nice to pick people's brains about winning."

The Blackhawks have made appearances at Wrigley Field after the 2010 and 2013 Stanley Cup Final series as well. In 2010, the Hawks, Cubs and White Sox all posed with the Cup before a Sunday night game.

So far, the winning has not transferred from the West Side to any other part of Chicago, but Cubs manager Joe Maddon said it can't hurt to have the big trophy paraded around the ballpark.

That might be especially true for all of the young players on the Cubs. Rookies Kris Bryant and Addison Russell already have made contributions to the baseball team, and on Tuesday the Cubs called up top prospect Kyle Schwarber.

"Of course," Maddon said. "To do it three out of six (years) - how many guys on the team have been in all three of them?"

Told the answer is seven, Maddon said: "Wow. That's pretty spectacular. There's definitely something to that. The guys who have come along here to get to interact with the Blackhawks definitely would make a difference.

"I'm just like David. I'm a question asker to find out if there's something that I missed."

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Cubs scouting report

Cubs vs. Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field

TV: Comcast SportsNet

Radio: WBBM 780-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Tsuyoshi Wada (0-1) vs. Danny Salazar (6-2) tonight; Jason Hammel (5-2) vs. Carlos Carrasco (8-5) Thursday. Both games 6:10 p.m.

At a glance: This is the back half of a rare home-and-home series. Monday's game was rained out. The Cubs had not had a scheduled home-and-home set with anybody other than the White Sox since 1964. Entering Tuesday's game, the Indians' Jason Kipinis led the majors with a .398 average since May 1. For the Cubs, this kicks off a string of five straight games at American League parks. Chris Coghlan has been hot for the Cubs, going 17-for-46 with 5 doubles, a home run, 7 RBI and a .431 on-base percentage since May 31 entering Tuesday.

Next: Minnesota Twins at Target Field, Friday-Sunday

- Bruce Miles

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