Cub Tracks Never Quits

Got a late start and lots of links from the major sources, so the blogs get a shift off in this edition.

From Comcast SportsNet Chicago:

• With a wave of changes occurring in baseball front offices, Jason McLeod could be an in-demand candidate as a general manager. For now, McLeod just wants to bring a World Series title to the Cubs.
• McLeod also thinks that Carl Edwards, Jr. could play a role in the Cubs' bullpen in September.
• Patrick Mooney writes that part of what makes Jake Arrieta so fun to watch is that he can tend to be on a different wavelength at times.
• He may be the catcher of the future, but right now Kyle Schwarber is the left-fielder of the present, and he believes that it's been a good transition so far.
• Dan Haren may not have good numbers with the Cubs so far, but he still has Joe Maddon's support.
• First there was Kate Upton in a rain poncho at Wrigley Field; now there's Kate Upton in a P-51 Mustang flying over Wrigley Field.

From Cubs.com:

• Friday's comeback win over the Braves -- as well as Saturday's -- gave fans another reminder that this season's team doesn't ever quit.
• How has Anthony Rizzo become such a powerhouse against left-handed pitching? He gives a lot of the credit to assistant hitting coach Eric Hinske.
• From the "Who knew?" department: Jason Motte has an 8-1 record this season.
• Joe Maddon is implementing "American Legion Week" for the Cubs as part of a plan to give the players time to rest.
• Maddon also has a plan in place for when rosters expand at the beginning of September, a plan that he's used before when he was with the Rays.

From ESPN Chicago:

• Whatever you do, don't talk about this year's Cubs team as being a team of destiny.
• As for the words "expectations" and "pressure", Joe Maddon wants those words to be used positively.
• Jed Hoyer is also working on his plan for September callups, saying that the decisions can be hard because there are a lot of factors in play.
• Kyle Hendricks' last start may have been a bit bumpy, but Maddon saw signs of progress.

From CBS Chicago:

• Theo Epstein's contract is almost over, and as for his future: "I am committed to the Cubs and could not be happier."
• Bruce Levine writes that the transition of Addison Russell from second base back to his natural position of shortstop has for the most part worked out.
• Tim Baffoe writes in praise of Chris Coghlan, saying that in an effort to get a new flavor on the team by pursuing Ben Zobrist and Chase Utley, it turned out that the Cubs already had a flavor in Coghlan that tasted just fine.
• Despite the poor outing on Wednesday, Jon Lester has been having one of his best seasons so far, and Nick Shepkowski has some of the numbers to prove it.
• Some people like the 3:05 Friday starts; others loathe them. As for Joe Maddon, he would like to see them go away.
• Dutchie Caray received a special birthday present from the city of Chicago, as a section of Pearson Street downtown was given the honorary name of Dutchie Caray Way.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

• With his 25th homer on Saturday, Anthony Rizzo became only the fifth left-handed batter in Cubs history with multiple 25-plus home run seasons.
• Could Rizzo possibly win the National League MVP award? The ESPN Baseball Tonight crew thinks there's a possibility of it, especially if the Cubs make it into the postseason.
• Joe Maddon isn't concerned that playing Kyle Schwarber in left field will impact his progress behind the plate.
• David Just looks at the question of whether Jake Arrieta is the best Cubs pitcher since Greg Maddux.
• It's been two weeks since Starlin Castro was taken out of the starting lineup, and Maddon has lauded Castro for the way that he has handled the move.
• First-round draft pick Ian Happ recently spoke with MiLB.com about switch-hitting and how the ability has driven much of his success.
• Sammy Sosa was named to the Latino Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday. He was one of six players inducted along with Orlando Hernandez, Jesse Orosco, Edgar Renteria, Ivan Rodriguez and Omar Vizquel.
• Coming in 2016 to the Wrigley Field marquee: The Toyota logo. And maybe functioning lights.

From the Daily Herald:

• Barry Rozner reminds Cubs fans that losing is not inherent and that fans should not fear whatever comes next.
• Palatine High School sophomore Justin Davis got the opportunity of his life to be the Cubs' honorary bat kid on Saturday. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2010.

Today's food for thought:

• [VIDEO] Fun with science: Watch as hydrophobic sand turns into a metallic good when placed in water -- and immediately back into sand when it's taken out.
• [VIDEO] And, finally... for those with a love for kitchen gadgets, it's... a hexagon cake knife.