Cubs continue push for All-Star Game while improving Wrigley facilities

Major League Baseball’s decision announced Wednesday to award Dodger Stadium as the site of the 2020 All-Star Game hardly put a dent in the Cubs’ plans to bring the Midsummer Classic to Wrigley Field in the near future.

The team will continue its pursuit of being host for the game as upgrades and renovations continue to enhance Wrigley’s chances.

Along those lines, many Cubs executives from the business and baseball operations departments have spent hours going over issues manager Joe Maddon and players brought up regarding the new dugouts, which were widened and received a warm response.

Some tweaking is in store, particularly the widening of the entrance from near the bat rack to the on-deck circle.

“Everyone expected some kind of adjustment period,” Maddon said. “The fixes we’re talking about are relatively simple.”

Maddon acknowledged that the placement of the dugouts farther down the lines put everyone on alert.

“As a group, we really have to be on our toes for the foul ball that is smoked in that area,” Maddon said “It’s going to take a couple of games. It will be fine.”

Dodger Stadium, which experienced a broken sewage pipe that caused postponement of an exhibition game two weeks ago, will be host to its first All-Star Game since 1980. The stadium opened in 1962.

The Cubs had their last All-Star Game in 1990.

Heyward’s hardware: Maddon believes right fielder Jason Heyward’s recognition as a five-time National League Gold Glove Award winner is more impressive in light of his recent offensive struggles.

“It’s almost an offensive award,” Maddon said about two hours before Heyward received his fourth consecutive Gold Glove Award on Wednesday. “The fact he has been able to hold serve in the eyes of the industry while he’s still working to get to the level he’s capable of offensively is pretty impressive. And he makes a huge difference for us.”

Two at second: Javier Baez became only the sixth Cub to hit two or more home runs in a game as a second baseman, joining Ryne Sandberg (24), Rogers Hornsby (2), Todd Walker (2), Heinie Zimmerman (2), Ben Zobrist (2). Baez achieved the feat in Tuesday’s loss and repeated Wednesday.

mgonzales@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @MDGonzales

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