Cub Tracks Is Focused On Winning Big

Go Cubs Go!

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This year's model.

• Patrick Mooney (CSN Chicago*): Focused on winning big with Chicago, John Lackey doesn't care what you think. "He’s not angling for a media gig in his post-playing career or worrying if the bleacher bums will boo him."
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs follow tanker truck on wide-open road toward 2016 playoffs. What, they eat at Road Pilot? Tanks. Tanks a lot, Gordon.
• August Fagerstrom (Fangraphs): This Cubs lineup might be the most disciplined ever. "As long a lineup gets on base and hits for power, they can lead the league in strikeouts and be just fine. The Cubs plan to do just that."
• Chris Rodewald: Sounds of Wrigley reverberate on Addison Russell's blast. "Maybe it’s just the first great memory of a season that many will never forget."
• Zack Moser (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): In 2016, lefties might not be a thorn in the Cubs' side. Addison Russell and Jorge Soler need to improve against southpaws-odds are they will.

I believe in yesterday.

• George Castle (Chicago Baseball Museum): Clubhouse under glass. Good semi-nostalgic article. (I like that these are in .pdf form. Much cleaner look than the common run of article.)
• David N. Wilson (Baseball Essential): Hack Wilson, unbreakable records, the Cubs, and the World Series. "...all things considered – it’s a good year to win."
• Dan Bernstein (CBS Chicago): Cubs' new digs to test Joe Maddon's philosophy. Maddon has something new to manage, and it’s not a player. Bernstein mercifully brief.
• Sports Mockery: History says that the Cubs are going to the World Series, partly because of the White Sox. "Both times both teams started 5-2 or better, the Chicago Cubs went to the World Series and played the Detroit Tigers. "
• Tony Andracki (CSN Chicago*): Why Blues want to follow in Cubs' footsteps in Stanley Cup matchup with the BlackHawks. Yes! They have decided to play the Cardinals instead. "I don't know what's going on with the Cubs, but I think we're ready to make our next step and overtake the team that ended our season two years ago. We're ready for that," said Blues Captain David Backes.

The future is now.

• Fran Spielman (Chicago Sun-Times): Emanuel agrees to compromise plan to bolster Wrigley security. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has twice slammed the door on the Cubs’ request to shut down Addison and Clark on game days at Wrigley Field, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any changes in the name of ballpark security.
• ESPN: Anthony Rizzo talks to Dave Kaplan and Jeff Dickerson.[AUDIO]
• Buster Olney (ESPN-Insider{$}): Wrigley Field with target on its back?
• Buster Olney/Jayson Stark (ESPN): Not so Lovable? How hated will Cub fans become?[AUDIO] When we get used to winning? It's a good question. It's just probably premature, because nobody has any way of knowing what happens when the Cubs go all the way.
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): The Chicago Cubs' bullpen has had a killer start to the season. "For the most part, the Cubs are firing on all cylinders."
• Tony Andracki/JJ Stankevitz (CSN Chicago*): How Cubs, White Sox fared in 2016 MLB simulation. The Cubs have won the World Series! That message flashed across the screen four times in 10 separate seasons of our MLB 16 The Show simulations.
  
• Michael Dittelman (Baseball Essential): Ben Zobrist has a new 'coat of many colors'. He helped design his own batting gloves.
• Larry Scott (Today's Knuckleball): Cubs' impressive offense is only going to get better. "While they’ve been getting some really nice performances from Dexter Fowler and Ben Zobrist, they majority of hitters on the Cubs can all take significant steps forward throughout the course of the season."
• Phil Rogers (MLB.com): Anthony Rizzo key to Cubs' recipe for success. The straw that stirs the drink morphs into the egg in their beer.
• CBS Chicago: Chris Bosio will review catching game plans with Kyle Schwarber. Keep Kyle's head in the game. Each day before a Jason Hammel start, Schwarber — who was originally set to be Hammel’s personal catcher — will review the game plan for the next game’s opponent with Bosio. Plus [AUDIO]
• Anthony Castrovince (MLB.com): Windy City clubs flying high. Cubs, White Sox off to great starts.
• Stan Crousset (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): A few things about these Cubs. Some thoughts about Anthony Rizzo and the top three in the starting rotation.
• Zack Moser (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): Fatigue, platoons, and a prospect: Cubs catching sans Kyle Schwarber. Miguel Montero and David Ross both need rest. Is Willson Contreras the answer?

Food for thought:

• Rob Arthur (538): The new science of hitting. "...every time new data finds its way into baseball, it teaches us fresh lessons."
• Science Daily: Six elements of an effective apology, according to science. There are six components to an apology -- and the more of them you include when you say you're sorry, the more effective your apology will be, according to new research.
• Mary Beth Griggs (Popular Science): Octopus climbs out of New Zealand aquarium. Freedom! Octopi are really intelligent.