The things that people do when they seemingly have too much time on their hands can be very amusing.
From Comcast SportsNet Chicago:
- When it comes to help for the offense, Patrick Mooney writes that the Cubs know that the answers will have to come from within and not from the outside.
- Former Mets general manager Steve Phillips believes that the Cubs should trade for Cole Hamels in a deal that involves Kyle Schwarber. Uh... no.
- Mooney also says that this year's trade deadline may be a huge opportunity for the Cubs to move some prospects before the window of opportunity closes to move them.
- Part of the Cubs' hopes for pitching help from within the organization may have taken a hit, as High-A Myrtle Beach prospect Duane Underwood headed to Chicago for tests on his elbow.
- Several Cubs chimed in on the magician that Joe Maddon brought into the locker room before Tuesday's game. And why did Maddon choose a magician? In his words: "It's much easier to acquire a magician on the road than it is a 20-foot python. I've always felt that way." You've gotta love Joe.
From Cubs.com:
- What helped Matt Szczur before Tuesday's game? Not the magician, and not the music, but instead a pregame nap on the floor. Hey, when you're tired, you do what you have to do.
- Kyle Hendricks credited his success on Tuesday night with not trying to do too much and just being himself.
From ESPN Chicago:
- [VIDEO] Would you rather have the Cubs' young position players or the Mets' young rotation? Jesse Rogers and Adam Rubin debate the topic.
- Here's the same debate without the video.
From CBS Chicago:
- [AUDIO] Joe Maddon spoke Tuesday on the Spiegel and Goff show with topics including the Cardinals and the Cubs' ability to compete with them.
- Chris Emma writes that the season is reaching an important point for the Cubs as they have to decide what path to take on their push for the playoffs.
From the Chicago Tribune:
- Mark Gonzales takes a look at some of the Cubs' individual performances in the month of June.
- Jed Hoyer is happy to have the restrictions off this year as the international free agent period gets ready to start.
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
- This is what the 20-foot python looked like (or at least part of it) when Joe Maddon brought one in as manager of the Rays.
- Jon Lester is joining the Twitter campaign to get his teammates in the All-Star Game.
- Rick Morrissey can't understand why Keith Hartley -- the fan who caught the foul ball in the front row while holding his baby son -- is still being celebrated.
From Bleacher Nation:
- Brett Taylor presents a primer for the upcoming international free agent period.
- The Cubs are sitting on a 56.1 percent projection to gain one of the Wild Card spots, and Taylor thinks that things look pretty good for getting one of them.
- The ZiPS projections aren't quite as optimistic, though, putting the Cubs' playoff odds at 44.3 percent.
- Can Jason Motte continue to be effective despite very low strikeout and swinging strike rates?
Miscellaneous:
- Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com has five "levels" of trades the Cubs could look at, from "meh" to "earth-shaker." (You can probably guess what "earth-shaker" is.)
Today's food for thought:
- [VIDEO] How do you restore a painting that's over 450 years old? The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City will show you.
- [VIDEO] Because you've always wanted to know, a determination has been made on the resonant frequency of googly eyes. Someone should try this with Ryan Braun and see if it works.