Cub Tracks Doesn't Like Concerts (Or Does It?)

It's a Cub Tracks first (well, at least in my tenure): A poll at the end of the article!

From Comcast SportsNet Chicago:

• Patrick Mooney writes that Jake Arrieta is locked into a dream season with the way that he is pitching right now.
• It turns out that Joe Maddon is okay with concerts being played at Wrigley Field. It wasn't very long ago that he was singing a different tune about the subject.
• Just how long ago? About three days ago. Unless, as Maddon puts it: "It was an attempt at weak humor."
• If the Cubs did make it past the Wild Card game, would Maddon rely on Jason Hammel to possibly make two starts in a five-game series? Not necessarily, as he described the situation as "very fluid".
• There's also the case of Neil Ramirez, who is looking to find a role on the postseason roster.
• [VIDEO] It's the off-the-field ironman: Gary Pressy is nearing 3,000 consecutive games as the Cubs' organist.
• And in case you missed it, Tuesday was "Zoo Day" at Wrigley Field. Here are some photos from the festivities.

From Cubs.com:

• Part of the inspiration for Zoo Day at Wrigley Field came from Travis Wood, who apparently had pestered Joe Maddon with requests to bring animals into the clubhouse.

From ESPN Chicago:

• Jon Greenberg writes that the ol' Cubs swagger is back, assuming that swagger was actually a word the last time that they had it.
• [AUDIO] Hitting coach John Mallee spoke with Jesse Rogers about the progress of some of the Cubs' young hitters.
• [AUDIO] Rogers also spoke with Addison Russell about his game-ending diving play last Saturday and how he is preparing for October.
• Who deserves to win the National League Cy Young award? Rogers and Mark Saxon make their cases for Jake Arrieta and Zack Greinke.

From CBS Chicago:

• Here's how the numbers stack up on Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, and Jake Arrieta.
• Chris Emma lauds Arrieta's season so far, saying that what he has accomplished this season is nothing short of spectacular.
• Joe Maddon isn't overly concerned about Arrieta's inning count, with one key reason being that "Jake has been doing this longer."
• [AUDIO] Maddon was on the Spiegel and Goff show to discuss topics including the possibility of a bullpen start in a five-game playoff series.
• Kris Bryant on his curtain call for breaking the Cubs' single-season rookie home run record: "It's something I'll never forget."
• Theo Epstein looks at the current state of the rivalry between the Cubs and the Cardinals and draws comparisons to the Yankees and Red Sox from a decade ago.
• Mark Grote recently sat down for a conversation with Kerry Wood.

From the Chicago Tribune:

• David Haugh writes that Starlin Castro deserves his due for sparking the Cubs in September.
• If you're considering standing room only tickets for the end of the season or the playoffs -- assuming they're even available for the playoffs, that is -- Rachel Crosby has a primer for how to navigate the standing room only area.
• In addition to the helmet rub -- which was apparently inspired by Castro -- and the disco parties, there's a new trend starting: the sunflower seed shower.
• Regardless of Joe Maddon's feelings on concerts at Wrigley Field, Paul Sullivan feels that they should end now that the team is competitive and drawing revenue from other sources.
• Paul Sullivan has waited 10 months to run this story: He's still waiting for his shot and a beer that Joe Maddon mentioned in his introductory press conference last year.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

• It's been the norm that come September the city of Chicago would shift its focus from baseball to the Bears. Jarrett Payton says that the tide is definitely turning the other way this season.
• Rick Telander writes about Jake Arrieta's 20-win season and says that the trade to bring him to the Cubs just might be the best trade in franchise history.
• Gordon Wittenmyer gives his list of the 10 most significant moves made to get the Cubs to their current position as a team on the brink of making the playoffs.
• The Blackhawks had a preseason game on Tuesday in Detroit against the Red Wings which was not attended by Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, or Andrew Desjardins. Because they were all at Tuesday night's Cubs game.
• More pictures from the Tuesday Zoo Day including a picture of Kris Bryant... not smiling.

From Cubs Den:

• John Arguello takes his shot at putting together the Cubs' wild-card roster.

From Bleacher Nation:

• Luis Medina takes a look at the revolving door of pitchers that have manned the fifth starter's spot in the rotation.
• Are the Cubs currently the best team in baseball? Matt Snyder at CBS Sports thinks so.
• Just what effect are the video boards having on fly balls at Wrigley Field? David Kagan at Hardball Times takes a look at the physics.

Miscellaneous:

• I thought this was a really good read and definitely worth the time: Ron Rapoport talks about the later years in the life of Ernie Banks.

Today's food for thought:

• Need a better knot for tying your shoes? Physics might just have the answer for you.
• For all of the MST3K fans out there: Rob Bricken presents his list of the 19 worst movies ever riffed by Mystery Science Theater 3000.