Cub Tracks’ Coffee Cup Runneth Over

In our last installment, Cub Tracks killed time with news of former Cubs, Ian Happ, the world’s lightest satellite, and other bullets. Yesterday, the game was rained out, to be played 7/6/17, weather willing, and the bobbleheads were sent back to the basement.

Cub Tracks does not want to talk about Friday’s game at all. Since Al already did,

there’s no need to have rehash and eggs for Sunday brunch, and we’ll have to dig up something else. Roster jenga means Tommy La Stella returns to Triple-A. Ian Happ’s coffee cup gets a refill. Pierce Johnson goes back to Iowa.

There was some rain delay theater. A couple of the articles focus on that. The Cubs plan to roll with the punches...in other words, “Embrace the Suck.” That’s Cub, I suppose. A few wins would erase all of that stuff. The Cubs should just go ahead and do that. Most reasonable people expect that to happen asap. Read all about it — as always * means autoplay on™ (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

Today in Cubs/Baseball history:

• 1907 - After the Giants' 3-0 loss to the Cubs that drops New York out of first place, the players need to form a protective ring around umpires Hank O'Day and Bob Emslie. Pinkerton guards fire shots in the air, trying to disperse unruly fans who have spilled onto the field at the Polo Grounds.
• 1968 - The Cubs climb above the .500 mark the first time in the season with a 6-5 win over the Phillies. Billy Williams sets a record for outfielders by playing in his 695th straight game.

• 1986 - Rafael Ramirez strokes four doubles in seven trips to the plate. The infielder's quartet of two-baggers helps the Braves to edge the Cubs in 13 innings at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, 9-8.
• 2009 - The letter “I’’ on the Big Mac Land sign at Busch Stadium is knocked out by Albert Pujols's first-inning blast off Sean Marshall in the Cardinals' 3-1 victory over Chicago. During any game, if a Cardinal player hits a home run into Big Mac Land, built in the left field stands (section 272) as a tribute to Mark McGwire, everyone at the game is entitled to redeem their ticket for a free Big Mac® at all participating restaurants in the fast food chain.

Cubs News:

• Jeff Arnold (Chicago Sun-Times): Joe Maddon unveils new mantra, T-shirt for Cubs: Embrace The Suck. “There’s a difficult situation and it’s never any good, but nevertheless you have to embrace the situation,” Maddon said.
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com): Rotation starting to settle into a groove. “The Cubs' starting pitchers aren't throwing shutouts, but they appear to be getting back on track.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Jake Arrieta may be dealing with a mechanical issue … which could be good news? “Arrieta’s average horizontal release point has shifted towards third base by a noticeable amount...”
• Bruce Levine (CBS Chicago*): Eddie Butler stumble leaves Cubs’ pitching roster in flux. Butler made no excuses for his bad outing.

• Rick Tarsitano (WGN-TV): Willson Contreras plays catch with Cubs fan during rain delay. Made a new fan in the process.
• Daniel Shepard (Cubbies Crib): Chicago Cubs: Q and A with Taylor Davis. ...an interview with minor-league catcher Davis.
• Jake Nesbitt (MLB.com): Anthony Rizzo's 'Cook-Off' event raises more than $1M. Cubs players helped serve food and drink at the sold-out event, the fifth annual iteration.
• Randy Holt (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): The inevitable progression of Anthony Rizzo. “...it’s only a matter of time before Anthony Rizzo sorts himself out and gets on track.”
• Scott Chasen (MLB.com): Joe Maddon shows confidence in Ian Happ. Happ and Jason Heyward were both in the lineup prior to the rainout.
• Phil Rogers (MLB.com): Maddon toying with idea of two utility men. "I'm seeing an interesting all-over-the-map guy,'' Maddon said of Happ.
• Bradford Doolittle (ESPN): Rainout doesn't wash away Cubs' new-look lineup. “I’m just happy to be in the lineup again,” said Happ, who is in the best shape of his life.
• Bruce Miles (Daily Herald {$}): Happ stays, but is Kyle Schwarber done leading off for Chicago Cubs? "The biggest thing is just to get him untracked a little bit, confidence wise, “ Maddon said of Schwarber.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Was Saturday’s lineup a sign that Schwarber is done leading off? “...this seems to be a way for Maddon to prime the pump on the offense by moving the hot-hitting Ben Zobrist up for a while.”
• Paul Roumeliotis CSN Chicago*): Joe Maddon explains decision to move Kyle Schwarber out of leadoff spot for Cubs. “Happ’s the new Zobrist. In other words he could protect Rizzo,” Maddon said.

• Russell Dorsey (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): Javier Baez has to be more than a defensive stud. “He showed that he can make the adjustments, now he has to show he can continue to build on them.”
• Ryan Davis (FanRag Sports): When will personal slumps end for these three key Cubs? “...with Russell, Schwarber and Rizzo, is the breakout on the horizon?”
• David Haugh (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs developing knack for making top prospects like Ian Happ feel needed. "I love this team and this city, especially when the weather is nice," Happ said.
• James Neveau (NBC Chicago): Cubs, Brewers square off in epic rain delay dance-off. “It's unclear which side came out on top...”
• Sal Maiorana (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle): Red Wings manager Mike Quade was happy Chicago Cubs won World Series. “You think about your situation personally, but you watch the jubilation of people that you know, and friends that you have, and you’re happy for them,” Quade said.

Food for thought:

• Emily Conover (Science News): Quantum tractor beam could tug atoms, molecules. “Electron beams could enable ‘matter wave’ treknology, theoretical study suggests.”
• Tracy Staedter (Live Science): Device purifies air and creates energy all at the same time. “A small innovation could have a big impact on air pollution.”
• Mike Wall (Space.com): Start thinking about possible Europa lander instruments, NASA tells scientists. “All these worlds are yours, except Europa...”

Thanks for reading. See you Tuesday with more Cubs news and notes.