Cub Tracks Gets Back To The Basics

Tons of links, so let's just get right to it.

From Comcast SportsNet Chicago:

• The Cubs are big fans of the intensity that comes from Kyle Schwarber.
• Travis Wood was definitely impressed by the show of power on Tuesday from Jorge Soler, Javier Baez, and Kris Bryant. His reaction to the back-to-back-to-back homers: "just wow." (Also covered by the Chicago Sun-Times.)
• Dexter Fowler and Anthony Rizzo were impressed, too -- so much so that they decided to take a selfie with the trio to express their excitement.
• Homers are sexy and all that, but Joe Maddon feels that the more important thing right now is improvement on fundamentals. (Also covered by Cubs.com, ESPN Chicago and the Chicago Sun-Times.)
• Jon Lester isn't worried about the sloppy play, primarily because to him the errors so far have been physical and not mental.
• Jacob Turner is expected to start the season on the disabled list after an MRI revealed a flexor strain and bone bruise in his right elbow. (Also covered by Cubs.com and Bleacher Nation.)
• Fowler and Miguel Montero recall something that they hope the young guns will experience this summer: the feeling of being in a playoff race as a rookie.
• Comcast SportsNet will be airing two back-to-back commercial-free Cactus League games featuring the Cubs and White Sox on March 19 and 20 as part of their "15 Games in 15 Days" telecast schedule.
• Will Ferrell will be playing catcher for the Cubs on Thursday against the Angels as part of his quest to play all nine positions with 10 different teams in one day. Montero's advice to Ferrell:  "Wear a cup." (Also covered by Cubs.com and the Chicago Tribune.)

From Cubs.com:

• More on the homer show from Soler, Baez and Bryant including this fun fact: The last time the Cubs hit back-to-back-to-back homers was on September 15, 2004 when Derrek Lee, Sammy Sosa, and Michael Barrett pulled off the feat against the Pittsburgh Pirates. What may have been even more impressive in that game was that Neifi Perez went 3-for-6 with a homer of his own. (Also covered by ESPN Chicago.)
• Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer was humorously reminded of the three blasts hit off of him by the Goodyear Police Department who brought the balls hit by the trio (well, maybe) back to him. (Also covered by ESPN Chicago and CBS Chicago.)
• Miguel Montero got his first chance to catch Jon Lester on Wednesday and was pretty happy with how it went.
• Mike Olt says that his shoulder feels "amazing" after starting a new throwing program in the offseason.
• Jason Motte knows how much Carlos Villanueva meant to the young arms of the bullpen, and he's happy to take on the role of mentor that Villanueva left behind. He's not going to grow the handlebar mustache, though.
• Joe Maddon was very impressed with what he saw from C.J. Edwards in his debut on Monday against the Padres.
• Maddon is also preaching pitchers' defense with more intensity, especially after the throwing error by Edwin Jackson on Monday that led to four unearned runs.
• For the first time in his career, Hawk Harrelson believes that there's a definite chance of a Cubs-White Sox World Series.

From ESPN Chicago:

• One of the big successes in Lester's outing on Wednesday was the ability to consistently get ahead in the count.
• It's time for another entry from the diary of C.J. Edwards, this time looking at his first outing on Monday.
• [AUDIO] Mike Olt spoke with Jesse Rogers about his home run on Monday and his approach at the plate.
• [AUDIO] Jed Hoyer also spoke with Rogers about the team's slow start and what's ahead for the rest of the month.

From CBS Chicago:

• Phil Coke believes that his veteran experience can be a boon to the Cubs' young bullpen.

From the Chicago Tribune via RedEye Chicago:

• Paul Sullivan chimes in on Tuesday's power display and a catchphrase that's written on the daily workout schedule: "That's Cub."
• Of course the Twitterverse went just a little bit crazy on Tuesday as well. It's Twitter, after all.
• One thing that Joe Maddon won't tolerate, however, is players showboating after they hit a home run. As he put it, "Act like you've done it before." (Also covered by the Chicago Sun-Times.)
• The Trib is also holding a vote for a new song to replace "Go Cubs Go" by Steve Goodman.  They've narrowed their field down to 16 songs and the first round of voting can be found here.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

• Does Anthony Rizzo still think the Cubs are going to win the Central this season? Well... he's not answering that question right now.

From the Daily Herald:

• Bruce Miles writes that when it comes to the renovations to Wrigley Field and the Cubs themselves, it's best to take the long view on both.
• [VIDEO] People may not agree with Mike North on a lot of things, but I think we can all agree with him on this: Ernie Banks deserved a better end than the one he got.

From Cubs Den:

• As Spring Training rolls along, John Arguello writes that the roster situation is starting to come into focus.

From Bleacher Nation:

• In a two-part series (Part 1 and Part 2), Michael Cerami looks at the Cubs from the viewpoint of swing rates and contact rates.
• Many of you may not want to talk about it, but you should probably start preparing yourself for more discussion of the designated hitter making its way to the National League. (Also covered by Chicago Cubs Online.)

From Cubs Insider:

• Nate Schmidt examines the statistical evidence in an attempt to come up with a final verdict on Mike Olt.

Today's food for thought: