Cub Tracks Goes Yard

Last time around, we got over the hump, got the best of Lester, enjoyed some Soler power, and briefly discussed the hottest pepper in the world. Today, we’re enjoying the summer of fulfillment (see article below**) and trying to figure out why we like chocolate so much, among other things.

Friday, the West Coast trip got off to a Rockies start as the Cubs dropped one in extra innings, and Saturday night, the Cubs dropped nine runs on Colorado and made them stand up. Today, the Cubs go for meat loaf for Sunday dinner.

As always * means autoplay on (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

• **Burt Constable (Daily Herald): New Cubs feeling inspires new Cubs song. Stew Cohen (News Director of STAR 105.5 (WZSR-FM) and 103.9 (WFXF) in Crystal Lake) wrote the lyrics, Vertical Jam performed the tune. You can listen here.
• Daniel Kramer (MLB.com): For Kris Bryant and Nolan Arenado, admiration is mutual. Jake Arrieta also has a few words on the subject.
• Mike Petriello (MLB.com): Amidst great season, Kris Bryant still has one weakness. Actually, there are a few. Going oppo is one, hitting the change-up is another.
• Dayn Perry (CBS Sports): Cubs slugger Kris Bryant is starting to pull away in NL MVP race. Respect his authoritah.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Which half of Bryzzo do you have in the MVP race? I voted for Rizzo. Close though.
• Dan McGrath (Chicago Sun-Times): Rizzo gets nod over Bryant for MVP, but who’s first into Hall? Premature speculation is premature.
• Ben Weinrib (MLB.com): Despite loss, dream debuts for Felix Pena and Rob Zastryzny. "They really held their own well," manager Joe Maddon said.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times): Kyle Hendricks claims ERA lead, chases Cub rotation power ranking lead. He’s more interested in the latter, in which he’s battling Jason Hammel.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): We should talk about the Cubs bullpen again: Hector Rondon, Aroldis Chapman, Travis Wood, rookies, more. Some thoughts about the efficiency of the unit.
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN): Finally, a pitcher drafted by the Cubs makes it -- to the Cubs. Rob Zastryzny is the first pitcher drafted by the current front office to make it to the big leagues.
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Cubs reliever Hector Rondon not worried about DL stint for triceps soreness. “It’s no big deal,” Rondon said. “I don’t feel that much pain, but I know I have something there and have to take care of [it].”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Looks like Willson Contreras is getting better at handling Cubs starters. Deep dive into the numbers.
• Patrick Mooney (CSN Chicago*): How Miguel Montero is handling the rise of Willson Contreras. He’s mentoring Contreras and keeping himself ready to play.
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Can even more time off help Jason Heyward? “We’ll make that evaluation as we move it forward,” Maddon said of Heyward’s playing time after this weekend.
• Barry Rozner: Dexter Fowler presents nice dilemma for Cubs, Epstein. First-place problems.
• Neil (Chicago Cubs Online): Kyle Schwarber updates progress, says working hard to come back as soon as possible. The rumor about playing this season keeps on popping up.
• Isaac Bennett (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): Matt Murton: Journeying through baseball with a purpose. “For Murton’s part, whatever his path with the Cubs may take, he’s taking nothing for granted.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune): Breaking down the Cubs' possible first-round playoff opponents. “Big-boy games are totally different." — John Lackey.

Food for thought:

1. John Bohanon (Science): Biologists are close to reinventing the genetic code of life. “Requiring a staggering 62,000 DNA changes, the finished genome would be the most complicated genetic engineering feat so far.”
2. Maggie Kuo (Science): The sporting life. Three sports scientists share their experiences.
3. Nicole Mortillaro (Global News): The science of chocolate: What makes us like it so much? Science hasn’t fully figured it out. But they can eat their mistakes.

More Tuesday. Thanks for reading. Be careful out there.