Fun Fact: Writing Cub Tracks and trying to watch Twitter at the same time is not easy. At least not for me. Maybe for the seasoned vets it is.
From Comcast SportsNet Chicago:
- This just in: The Cubs still need more pitching before the trading deadline ends, writes Patrick Mooney.
- I'm not sure of Mooney's source on this one, but he says that the Cubs now have less than $5 million to play with when it comes to making a deal at the deadline.
- Even though he'd be okay if the Cubs didn't make a deadline move, Jon Lester would be happy to see a move of some sort, saying that it would give the team "that little boost."
- As for all of the hubbub surrounding Starlin Castro, Joe Maddon told him late Tuesday night that he's not getting traded.
- Miguel Montero feels ready to go, even though he knows that his thumb isn't 100 percent and probably won't be before the season's over.
- Albert Almora recently played for Team USA in the Pan Am Games and is hoping that his experience there will help him get back on track.
From Cubs.com:
- If the Cubs do manage to come away from the trade deadline empty-handed, Joe Maddon is still okay with that.
- MLB.com recently released their list of the Top 25 players currently in baseball age 25 or younger. Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant both made the list, and believe me, it's one heck of an impressive list.
- So, remember a week or two ago when Kyle Schwarber wasn't going to play left field in an attempt to get his bat in the lineup? Amazing what a week or two can do.
- Jason Motte took part in an event hosted by the Cubs' athletic trainers that hosted 80 kids at Wrigley Field on Tuesday. The event was part of the PLAY campaign (Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth).
From ESPN Chicago:
- Jesse Rogers compares the Cubs' run toward the deadline to a game of whack-a-mole. I was never any good at that game.
- Jon Lester struck out 14 Rockies in Wednesday's game, thanks to impressive success rates with all of his pitches.
- There was a Tommy La Stella sighting at Wrigley Field on Monday; he took batting practice and will be heading out on a rehab assignment soon.
From CBS Chicago:
- This just in: Acquiring pitching is a top priority for the Cubs, writes Bruce Levine. (This sounds strikingly familiar...)
- If there's one word not to use in the clubhouse, it's "slump", as Mark Grote found out.
- There's more news in the court case surrounding the estate of Ernie Banks, as court filings allege that his caretaker took him to sign a will days after a medical evaluation revealed that he had moderate to severe dementia.
From the Chicago Tribune:
- Rafael Soriano needs to go. Immediately, writes Steve Rosenbloom.
- Joe Maddon is a big fan of submariner Ben Rowen. Why, exactly? "I love funk. The funk is good."
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
- Not only did Jon Lester strike out 14 Rockies on Tuesday -- the most for a Cub lefty in at least 100 years -- but he was also 3-for-3 at the plate. In sacrifice bunts, that is.
- MLB.com released an updated list of their top 100 prospects on Wednesday, with five Cubs making the list.
- From the "Do You Remember?" files: It was 27 years ago that Rick Sutcliffe stole home against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 29, 1988.
- A recent poll by Public Policy Polling showed that 40 percent of Illinois residents identified as Cubs fans. The White Sox came in second place at 22 percent with the Cardinals third at 19 percent.
From Bleacher Nation:
- A recent tweet from Cub folk hero John Baker led to an e-mail exchange with Brett Taylor on Baker's opinions on the subject of retaliation in baseball and protecting teammates.
- And if you've been following Taylor's Blog-a-thon progress, he has now received enough donations for Make-a-Wish to hit the target of 38 consecutive hours of blogging. Complete with an authentic Cubs rally bucket, I might add.
Miscellaneous:
- But, wait... there's more from John Baker! In this article he gives high praise to Edwin Jackson, calling him "the consummate professional, teammate, and friend."
- [VIDEO] What's it like to go through the catacombs of Wrigley Field? Check out this sped-up video from Rockies' reliever John Axford as he walks from the visitors' clubhouse to the field.
Today's food for thought:
- How time flies: It was 30 years ago this Friday, on July 31, 1985, that Arlington Park was destroyed in a fire.
- Eight-year-old Zion Harvey from Owings Mills, Maryland, recently set a new medical milestone, becoming the youngest person ever to receive a double-hand transplant.