Cub Tracks Makes Fall Preparations

Russ La Croix is away... well, actually, he's in Chicago attending a family event. I'm also in Chicago, filling in for him on today's Cub Tracks. Russ will be back Tuesday (and will have Heroes & Goats for Saturday's and Sunday's games here Monday morning), in the meantime, here's your Sunday selection of Cubs links.

From Comcast SportsNet Chicago:

• What are the risks and rewards on playing Kris Bryant in the outfield? Patrick Mooney examines this issue.
• Jake Arrieta on possibly pitching in the one-and-done game: "Nothing fazes me."
• Joe Maddon remembers a close friend who died in the 9/11 attacks.
• VIDEO: Kyle Schwarber on his big night at the plate on Friday.

From Cubs.com:

• Phil Rogers says Jake Arrieta is worthy of the Cy Young Award. With three weeks to go in the season... it could still happen.
• VIDEO: Here's Statcast showing various numbers (velocity, launch angle, etc.) on Kris Bryant's Friday-night home run in Philadelphia.
• Cubs rookies Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant are a "dynamic duo," writes Carrie Muskat.
• If you haven't already done so, you can still register to win an opportunity to buy Cubs postseason tickets (through noon September 23).

From ESPN Chicago:

• You won't be surprised to learn that Joe Maddon would vote for Jake Arrieta for the Cy Young Award.
• And Maddon says he doesn't care whether the wild-card game is at Wrigley or on the road. (But what about the division title?)
• What will Maddon do with various lineup matchups when Jorge Soler returns? Jesse Rogers looks at Joe's choices.
• VIDEO: SportScience analyzes Kris Bryant's monster home run last week (the one that hit the left-field video board).

From CBS Chicago:

• Dan Bernstein says the rest of the Cubs' regular season "doesn't mean much." (I'd beg to differ.)
• Mark Grote praises Javier Baez' glove and says that might get him on the postseason roster. (I think Baez is probably heading to the playoffs anyway.)

From the Chicago Tribune:

• The Cubs are having fun with their current run of winning. Paul Sullivan says they are "laughing to October."
• Jake Arrieta says he's preparing for October. (Includes video.)
• VIDEO: Kris Bryant on the Cubs' Friday doubleheader sweep.
• If you had September 12 in the pool for the first time a Chicago writer would mention Steve Bartman, goats or Greek priests, you win.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

• Gordon Wittenmyer writes that though the Cubs rookies sometimes "fall down" (referring to Kyle Schwarber's faceplant Friday night), they always pick themselves up and produce.
• Rick Morrissey says Chris Coghlan could make key contributions for the Cubs in the postseason.

From Cubs Den:

• Will the Cubs be big spenders again next offseason? John Arguello examines the topic.
• Theo & Co. have focused on hitters in building the system and have been successful. Next year, though, pitching could become a strength.

From Bleacher Nation:

• Will Dexter Fowler be back in center field for the Cubs in 2016, or will they move on? Brett Taylor examines the Cubs' options.

From Cubs Insider:

• Is the Cubs' rotation good enough to win a title? Evan Altman compares this year's Cubs staff to recent World Series winners.
• Altman also looks back at rediscovering baseball in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.

Miscellaneous:

• Remember Will Ferrell's romp through the Cactus League in March, including a stint with the Cubs? It was all for a good charitable cause and you can now watch "Ferrell Takes The Field" on HBO and HBO Now.
• Paul Sullivan on how former Cubs GM, now Phillies president Andy MacPhail is going to have to adapt to modern methods of baseball management.
• Barney Schultz, a knuckleball pitcher who had two pretty good years for the Cubs in 1961 and 1962 before being traded to the Cardinals where he helped lead them to the 1964 World Series, died in New Jersey September 6, aged 89. Schultz was also a Cubs coach in 1977.

Today's food for thought:

• Have you ever felt like posting funny reviews of IKEA items in the store? One guy did it.
• The line marking the east/west longitude line, the Prime Meridian in Greenwich, England, is apparently not exactly where it should be... and right now, a trash can is on the right spot.
• A balloon was launched to the edge of space by two girls from Seattle. That'd be cool enough, but check out how old those girls are. Another similar balloon, launched two years ago over the Grand Canyon but feared lost, was recently found along with the amazing video it produced.