Cub Tracks Raises The Bar

Here's the latest from around the web:

From Comcast SportsNet Chicago:

• After Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Cardinals, Jed Hoyer hopes that the focus can get back to the product on the field.
• After the win Hector Rondon gave the baseball to Joe Maddon for him to keep. Maddon said it was "very sweet of him", but he wants the Cubs to expect to win a lot more often.
• Jake Arrieta could be the next Jane Fonda. At least according to Maddon.
• Hoyer also explained why C.J. Edwards will be starting the season in the bullpen for Double-A Tennessee.
• The Cubs are being careful with pitching prospect Pierce Johnson, who strained a lat muscle during Spring Training. He's currently still in Arizona.
• In case you missed it, the Cubs have brought back James Russell on a minor-league deal.
• For those who still don't know who Joe Maddon is or what he's about, Patrick Mooney presents a viewer's guide to him. Or a reader's guide, more appropriately.

From Cubs.com:

• One thing that helped Jake Arrieta in Wednesday's game is a chat he had during the first inning with Miguel Montero. Well, "chat" may be putting it lightly.
• Arrieta provided Starlin Castro with a confidence boost after a missed opportunity in the fourth inning, telling Castro that "I got your back."
• Joe Maddon is taking a crash course in learning the National League Central.
• Maddon also feels like he's on a honeymoon, one that he anticipates to last forever.

From ESPN Chicago:

• Jon Lester on throwing to first base: "It's not a big issue."
• Jesse Rogers writes that Jake Arrieta is a pitcher who has grown up in a short amount of time since joining the Cubs in 2013.

From CBS Chicago:

• Looking to hear more from Joe Maddon? He'll be a weekly regular on the Spiegel and Goff show Tuesdays at noon on 670 The Score.
• A lot of talk has surfaced lately about a possible trade of Starlin Castro with the Padres apparently in the market for one. Nick Shepkowski has some questions for those who are looking to send Castro out of town.
• Julie DiCaro presents five Cubs storylines to follow that do not involve Kris Bryant.

From the Chicago Tribune:

• The upcoming road trip to Colorado is going to be a homecoming of sorts for Joe Maddon.
• Vice-president of ballpark operations Carl Rice reiterated on Wednesday that the Cubs have no plans to move any home games away from Wrigley Field.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

• [VIDEO] Jon Lester spent some time on Wednesday morning working on a throw to first base.
• In an attempt to quash "Toilet-gate", Crane Kenney said that the postponement of Tuesday's game was entirely weather-related and that the bathroom situation had "absolutely nothing to do with it."

From the Daily Herald:

• Mike Imrem feels that the Cubs owe fans more than an apology for what happened on Opening Night.
• Barry Rozner writes that the narrative that the Cubs are already a disaster on and off the field is slightly absurd. Only slightly?

From Cubs Den:

• The Cubs are planning on getting Javier Baez and Addison Russell time at both second base and shortstop, according to the Des Moines Register.
• Practicing attorney Peter Evans takes a look at the state of the renovations from a legal perspective after last week's court decision against the rooftops.

From Bleacher Nation:

• [VIDEO] MLB.com has made the video tribute to Ernie Banks from Opening Night available for everyone to watch.
• Jorge Soler hits the ball really hard. Even if it doesn't end up as a hit.

From Cubs Insider:

• There was one main reason that I linked to the Cubs Insider recap of Wednesday's win: The GIFs are really cool.

Today's food for thought: