Cubs Win Big!

Whether the Cubs are losing or winning, Cub Tracks keeps spinning. Last time through these parts, we discussed 10,000+ (wins), the (alleged) World Series hangover, “total weenies”, and other similar subjects. Today we have news about yesterday, courtesy of the Cub Tracks continuum and scribes from various online organs.

In this sense, Cub Tracks could be seen as harvesting said organs. There’s no truth to the rumor that we took t’other kidney and fried it like Jack did, Mr. Lusk — though ‘the editorial we’ are no rocket scientists, we’re able to keep a level head about us, much like our good friend Ray Liotta...like any good Marvel Zombie, we only eat brains.

Chad Kuhl beans. Jason Heyward sure is ripping the ball. Check Al’s recap for details. MacBeth may have murdered sleep, but I’ve killed this metaphor just as surely as Spinal Tap drummers self-combusted. So, without further ado, we’ll check out the fruits of the writers’ labors. As always * means autoplay on™ (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

Today in Cubs history:

• 1876 - The Chicago White Stockings make their National League debut with a 4-0 victory over the Grays at the Louisville Baseball Park. The franchise, which will be also known as the Colts and Orphans before becoming the Cubs in 1903, will finish in first place in the circuit's inaugural season.
• 1976 -

• 1978 - At Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, the Phillie Phanatic makes his debut in a game against the Cubs. The six-foot green mascot is played by Dave Raymond.

• 1989 - With former players on hand, including Billy Herman, Andy Pafko, and Billy Williams, the Cubs celebrate the 75th anniversary of Wrigley Field with a 4-0 victory over L.A. at the Friendly Confines. The 'ceremonial' first pitch of the game, a spitball, is thrown by 97-year-old Bob Wright, who appeared in two games for Chicago in 1915 when the team played their home games at West Side Park.

Cubs News:

It takes two to tango (might want to mute):

• Bob James (KHAK.com): Former Cubs & Cardinals Greats to appear at Field of Dreams this summer. “The 4th Annual Team of Dreams Celebrity Game will happen in Dyersville Sunday, September 3...”
• According to ESPN Stats and Information Bronson Arroyo's average velocity on his pitches Sunday was 76.6 mph, slowest of the season for him. He held the defending champions to three hits and two runs without walking a batter over six innings. Cubs starter John Lackey: "You don't see that kind of stuff anymore."

• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times*): Trivia answer? Sure, but this Red’s part in Cub title not trivial. “I was joking with the guys the other day, calling it the ‘Scott Feldman trade,’ not the ‘Jake Arrieta trade,’ ’’ Feldman said.
• Jared Wyllys (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): Jake Arrieta is adjusting his pitch selection, and it’s working. “Since 2015, Arrieta has moved away from his sinker and has shown a greater reliance on his curveball.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): The Rundown: What to make of John Lackey’s rough start, Manny Machado head-hunting incident. Lackey’s velocity has dropped also...and other thoughts.
• Bill Thompson (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): Eddie Butler: The Cubs’ potential diamond in the rough. “He’s capable of generating lots of grounders.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Miguel Montero takes blame for Brett Anderson's recent struggles. "I didn't call a good game for him," Montero said.
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Javier Baez has been “over amped” at the plate, but there’s reason for optimism. “...his manager believes in him enough to keep sticking him in the lineup...”

• Jesse Rogers (ESPN): 'Really bro, Pokemon?' Addison Russell is building baseball's most unusual autograph collection. “I loved it. I love everything about Addy. He’s a big kid,” said Kris Bryant about Russell’s peculiar autograph request.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Kyle Schwarber likes challenge of playing left field at PNC, Fenway parks this week. Joe Maddon seems to want him to learn the position.
• Adam Nissen (Sports Mockery): From Middletown to Chi-Town: Kyle Schwarber’s high school coach chats with Sports Mockery about his legendary rise. Jason Cave shared a few things, like the L screen that they had to put up when Warbird was 12.
• Godon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times*): Some Cubs profiled for PED testing? Random is random, MLB insists. Jake Arrieta and Anthony Rizzo beg to differ.
• Tom U (Cubs Den): The Cubs and the 800-pound gorilla. “Openings on a major league roster can be made, usually by a well placed phone call.”
• Joe Ostrowski (Daily Herald {$}): Despite slow start, things falling into place for Cubs. Yeah, first place.

Food for thought:

• Emily Conover (Science News): Gamma-ray evidence for dark matter weakens. “A potential sign of dark matter is looking less convincing in the wake of a new analysis.”
• Eric Mack (CNet*): Why science is searching Earth for the ingredients of alien life. The idea is “to see if there are structural characteristics of some amino acids that lead to a higher stability in extraterrestrial conditions...”
• Ian Sample (The Guardian): Plastic-eating worms could help wage war on waste. Wax moth larvae eat plastic. They might have a better life as plastic eaters than they would as fish bait. Terry Forster considers eating fish a war on waist, I imagine.

Thanks for reading. Smell you Thursday.