Cub Tracks Takes Those Odds

Odds are, if we're even, we're leavin'. -- with apologies to Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, who should have played for the A's.

* autoplay reminder

All you can eat.

• David Schoenfield (ESPN): Monday's random thoughts: The unstoppable Chicago Cubs. The Cubs don't have baseball's best record, but they have been the most impressive team.
• Rick Morrissey (Chicago Sun-Times): If Cubs are this good already, where do we go from here? "From a journalistic view, the trouble with the Cubs is that we’re going to run out of things to say. Soon." No. Just out of superlatives.
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Off-day check-in: Cubs in first, playoff odds, projected record, dominant performances. "Anything can happen over the course of a long season, but as of now, the Cubs remain the team to beat."
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Is this Cubs' club the best collection of talent ever assembled? Like, anywhere? "...savor each slice of living history this Cubs team is prepared to offer you."

Open 24 hours.

• ESPN: Week three power rankings. The Nationals are number two. May 5-8 are starting have a certain significance.
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Three-week rewind: Chicago Cubs playing relaxed, together. "The Cubs are the only team in baseball without a two-game losing streak."
• August Fagerstrom (Fangraphs): The Cubs are the best base-running team, too. TOOTBLAN your own horn.

Euchre in the front row.

• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com): Dexter Fowler setting tone for Cubs' All-Star candidates. The 30-year-old center fielder has never been selected to an All-Star Game, and is making a statement this year. he's not the only Cub with ASG aspirations.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune): Eventful offseason paying off for Dexter Fowler. He's in the best shape of his life™, after having put on 18 lbs of muscle. "Casey Close took care of the contract," he said. "I got in shape."
• Jeff Wallner (The Sports Exchange): Joe Maddon has Chicago Cubs thinking outside the box. The batter's box.
• Ryan Davis (Today's Knuckleball): Albert Almora making a case to contribute for Cubs in 2016.

  In his last 50 games between AA and AAA, Albert Almora is slashing .328/.399/.474 with a 10% walk rate and 10% K rate.

  — John Arguello (@CubsDen) April 24, 2016

House money.

• CBS Chicago: Oddsmaker adjusts Cubs' over/under wins to a staggering 116.5. The Cubs are currently on a 119-win pace.
• Matt Youmans (Las Vegas Review/Journal): Will the Cubs win 100 games? You can bet on it. I bet Pete Rose loves reading this kinda stuff.

Right-armed bandit.

• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune): Experience, advice from veterans help Jake Arrieta to stay resilient. He's in the best shape of his life™. "I don't feel like I'm putting near the stress on my body as I used to," Arrieta said Friday after a workout.
• Jordan Bernfield (Daily Herald): Jake Arrieta up there with the greats. His work compares with the greatest in baseball history.
• Jeff Passan (Yahoo Sports): 10 degrees: Free from Orioles' purgatory, Jake Arrieta flourishing with the Cubs. "During their lowest moments, the four pitchers who were supposed to save the Baltimore Orioles looked at one another and asked a simple question: "What the [expletive] happened?"
• Sean Sears (Sports Mockery): MLB Insider says Orioles "ruined" Jake Arrieta, until Cubs fixed him. Rick Adair doesn't get any love.
• Cat Garcia (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): The Cubs, Jake Arrieta, and serendipity. "...the outcome of Arrieta’s journey can serve to represent the destiny of the franchise he is a part of. "
  

Pitch men.

• Dhruv Koul (Sports Mockery): The rich get richer: The Cubs' rotation is so good, check out this crazy stat. Jason Hammel has to erase his second-half demons.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times): Jason Hammel on Cubs' rotation: 'We want to be the backbone'. "The Cubs’ starting pitchers have been so good so far this season that the Cubs’ unique bullpen is no longer so unique. But it is very well rested."
• Lindsay Folten (Fox Sports): Anthony Rizzo's new cereal, RizzOs, flying off the shelves. I bet there's plenty in the back, being held for those 25-dollar-a-box Amazon investors.
• Neil (Chicago Cubs Online): A good series for the Bryzzo Souvenir Company. "The two sluggers hit a combined six home runs in the four game set in Cincinnati."

Miscellaneous.

• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): '3 a.m.' Tommy La Stella one of many Cubs heroes in another rout of the Reds.
• Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com): Ian Happ on MLB pipeline's prospect team of the week. Happ has flat-out raked. Lots of added video.
• Nate Greabe (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): Young Cubs: The next wave approaches. Prospects are good for a number of players.
• Ryan DeVault (Inquisitr): Chicago Cubs Rumors: Kyle Schwarber injury return possible for Cubs?
  MLB analyst Matt Snyder spoke with Dr. Rodney Benner of the Shelbourne Knee Center about the possibility of Schwarber playing again in the 2016 MLB season. Magic 8-ball says 'not likely'.

Food for thought:

• Julie Leibach (Science Friday): Selfies from the animal kingdom. Smile, Allen Funt.
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Make beer, get your degree. Southern Illinois University has a new accredited degree in fermentation science to train future brewers, distillers and vintners.
• Daily Galaxy: Beyond Drake's Equation. Optimism or science?

Game Day. More BCB coming.