Cub Tracks Helps Self

My head got shrunk. My gut didn't.

"A waist is a terrible thing to mind." -- Terry Forster

Catcher in the dry:

• CBS Chicago: Jed Hoyer: Cubs discussing having Kyle Schwarber be a personal catcher for one starter. Hoyer appeared on Spiegel and Goff's show and reiterated this idea.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Jed Hoyer says Cubs are considering Kyle Schwarber as one starter's personal catcher. Wash, rinse, repeat. Schwarber started at catcher for the first time earlier this week, and he caught Hammel’s first spring outing.

Phrenology:

• JJ Stankevitz (CSN Chicago*): Cubs see self-awareness as key to Javier Baez' development. " Where Joe Maddon wants to see Baez improve is in his ability to understand himself and why he’s either succeeding or failing on a play-to-play, at-bat-to-at-bat, game-to-game basis. "
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com): For Javier Baez, a spring of learning, adjustments. Baez's development won't happen overnight.
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Javier Baez taking the ups and downs in stride. Maddon admits Baez is in a tough spot playing all around the diamond without a starting position but it's up to him to make the most of it.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune*): Jake Arrieta treats Pierce Johnson with kid gloves. "Arrieta has taken an interest in the development of prospect Pierce Johnson dating back to last spring."
• CBS Chicago: Theo Epstein only needs six words to keep Cubs humble. Epstein also appeared on Speigel and Goff (Tuesday-the interview is at the bottom of the article), and he has a go-to line: "We’re a defending third-place team."

Dr. Feelgood:

• JJ Stankevitz (CSN Chicago*): Albert Almora '100 percent' after back-spasm scare. Almora said his back knotted up when he broke in to chase a fly ball.
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com): Kristopher Negron hoping versatility leads to Cubs job. He's healthy, and ready for whatever the Cubs want him to do.
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com): Cubs fan donates tickets through Steve's Dream. "It's a little bit of Cubs heaven -- it is Cubs heaven in Arizona," Mike Berry said. Special note: BCB member puckov is a friend of Mike Berry's.
• Chicago Tribune: Jake Arrieta on his first start. [VIDEO]
• Robert Villareal (Baseball Essential): Kyle Hendricks making a spot for himself in Cubs rotation. "Perhaps the most important ingredient to his success is his growth in maturity."

Appointment with destiny:

• JJ Stankevitz (CSN Chicago*): Jake Arrieta good with Cubs' plan to limit workload. "I think those bullets that I do have left are going to be more important in October," Arrieta said.
• CBS Chicago: Anthony Rizzo was also on the Speigel and Goff show, and he touted Addison Russell's MVP future.
• Bruce Miles (Daily Herald): Addison Russell looks like mainstay for Cubs at shortstop. The young player passes all tests.
• Jonathon Mayo (MLB.com): The next wave: Cubs' system features rising crop of hurlers. "Don't look now, but there are some arms on the way to back up all those bats."
• Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs' top pitching prospect waits for first big-league chance. Duane Underwood has shed the flu bug and awaits his turn.

Committed:

• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Cubs take revenge on coach Tim Buss and tie him to a chair for warmups. Buss can dish it out, and was made to take it.
• Buster Olney (ESPN): Arrieta's contract talks, Jonathon Lucroy and more. [AUDIO]
• Chris Landers (Cut4): Anthony Rizzo sleeps, breathes, and eats baseball in new MLB At-Bat app commercial.
• Fran Spielman (Chicago Sun-Times): Chicago may ban athletes from using chewing tobacco at home games. Jake Arrieta, who uses chewing tobacco, said Wednesday he supports the ban but predicts a backlash.
• Bruce Miles (Daily Herald): Cubs have some powerful options with Schwarber, Soler in left. The position hasn't exactly been manned by gazelles over the years.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Albert Almora's pursuit of perfection turning heads at spring training. "I want to help the team win and I know it’s hard offensively at times, but defensively, I feel like I should be perfect," Almora said.
• Mike Niederman (Cubbies Crib): Jake Arrieta wants job security. "The Cubs remain open to an extension but feel that given Arrieta’s age, a seven-year deal just doesn’t make sense."
• Robert Villareal (Baseball Essential*): Clayton Richard could be dependable option in Cubs' bullpen. "...if there is such a thing as a utility pitcher, Richard is it."

Food for thought:

• Lizzie Wade (Science): How sliced meat drove human evolution. Chewing the fat is better for conversational fodder.
• Jon Fingas (engadget): 'EVE Online' now rewards you for helping science. You don't have to be a paying EVE subscriber to participate, so it won't hurt to give the project a go if you're eager to advance medicine while you explore the virtual cosmos.
• Akshat Rathi (Quartz): Science captured as beautiful works of art. Pretty pictures.