Help stamp out grapes! I was once out strolling, one hot summer's day...
From Comcast Sportsnet Chicago:
- Tony Andracki: Cubs believe Jason Heyward still has room to grow as power hitter. "In Game 3 at Wrigley Field, Heyward got a breaking ball from Jake Arrieta -- the best pitcher on the planet at the time -- off the plate outside and drove it to the left-field bleachers."
From CBS Chicago:
- Tim Baffoe: Cardinals' sour grapes are sweet for Cubs. "What’s extra special gravy on the crystalizing of the much ballyhooed plan of Theo Epstein, Jed Hoyer and Co. is that it’s much to the chagrin of the rival St. Louis Cardinals." The tears of the Cardinals. Mixed metaphors make sweet wine indeed.
From ESPN Chicago:
- As reported in a front-page article, Taylor Teagarden is in a little trouble.
From Cubs.com:
- Cubs stand out in big year for rookies. "...it's not every year that the annual class of rookies proves to be so stellar at the top, so deep throughout its ranks and so accomplished as a group." Kris Bryant, Carlos Correa, Noah Syndergaard, Francisco Lindor, and more. Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler...Joc Pederson, Miguel Sano, Carlos Rodon, Matt Duffy...and that's just the first half of the article.
From Cubs Den:
- Jared Wyllys: How much have the Cubs improved, part two: offense. 2015 was strong. 2016 may be even stronger. How? Read on.
From Bleacher Nation:
- Brett Taylor: The Cubs are hiring. Really really. For a variety of gigs. If you’re dreaming of working for the Chicago Cubs, you can check out some new job listings.
- Luis Medina: Unspectacular, but steady: Looking at Ben Zobrist's reliability and defensive stats. "In some ways, Ben Zobrist epitomizes what Starlin Castro wasn’t in the field: steady, consistent, and regularly above average, even if not likely to make extraordinary plays too frequently."
- Taylor: A Lazarito hype video for your viewing pleasure. 16-year-old written up in last Cub Tracks makes another appearance.
From Cubs Insider:
- Todd Johnson: Cubs Starting Pitcher prospect breakdown: Upper minors have a few who could help soon.
- Evan Altman: Cubs report cards: Kyle Schwarber forced his way into lineup, refused to leave. If you are among the minority who isn’t fully bought-in on this young man, you may want to keep it to yourself.
- Altman: Cubs report cards: Addison Russell as advertised in the field, bat shows potential. "Addison Russell wholly justified the Cubs’ decision to trade Jeff Samardzija back in July of 2014."
Miscellaneous:
- Have the Cardinals been rattled by the fast-rising Cubs? Mark Townsend asks the question, and attempts to answer. "If nothing else, they have added fuel to one of baseball's greatest rivalries."
- Analyzing the candidates for the remaining spots in the starting rotation. Bob Warja writes: "Despite having a terrific off-season so far, the Cubs find themselves in the exact same position as last year—having three starters and not knowing who the 4th and 5th candidates are going to be."
- Maintaining financial flexibility: a new market inefficiency -- part one. Isaac Bennett elaborates on that theory.
- How the Cubs can put themselves over the top. Niklas Jarvinen opines. "The Cubs could use some bullpen help and possibly one more starter."
- The 2015 Chicago Cubs -- a look back at the magic. David N. Wilson makes another appearance with this article that piles on the good stuff. "It’s been said before. It’s been written and whispered and sung in the bleachers, but here it is again, and this time, with feeling… This could be the year!"
Food for thought:
- Locals found "Words of Wisdom" project to tell elders' stories. In other words, words to the wise.
- Don't try this at home: Florida woman busted drinking wine, eating chicken at Wal-mart. "A Bay area woman has been arrested after deputies say she was caught riding around a local Walmart on a motorized scooter, and using the store as her personal buffet."
- Deep Purple to be inducted into Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. What do Ian Paice and John Steinbeck have in common, Pearl Bailey? Click the links for clues.
Next time -- my recipe for "Blue Kool-Aid", a trip to "Bluetopia", and more. See you then!