Cub Tracks signs on

Sunday, Sunday, sundayyyyyyyy...I wish I could do an illuminated manuscript, with that gimongous first letter and the fancy-dan script, but they don’t give me them kind of crayons in my room. So we have sarcasm font instead. Artistic effects be damned!

I’ve been watching the Series, even after I said I wouldn’t, because baseball. Who could stay away? If they play late I work late and throw another story out into the world. I’m sorry? But this set-to looks to be going a game or two longer, and so far it’s been plenty artistic.

I mean, who cares about them old Cubs? It’s like sifting flour for diamonds, trying to find some sort of writeup. The kids are doing all right in the AFL, the new Ranger is making mouth noises, Brandon Hyde is still interviewing, Jed Hoyer is still with the Cubs. John Smoltz found Larry David’s enthusiasm.

Seven Nation Army sounds too much like that gawdawful thing the Braves do. Please let’s don’t, any more. Sub the Fratellis or something. Dang.

As always * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

1. With reference to ongoing commentary: Cub Tracks’ full 40-man as of 10/13.

Cubs News and Notes:

The Cubs are sure to pick up left-hander Cole Hamels’ $20MM option for 2019, Jon Heyman of Fancred reports. The club could instead buy out Hamels for $6MM, a sum his previous team – the Rangers – would cover, though that would be a surprise in the wake of his second-half performance. After the Cubs acquired Hamels in late July, he pitched to a 2.36 ERA with 8.7 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9 over 76 1/3 innings. Thanks in part to Hamels’ excellent results over the final couple months of the season, Cubs president Theo Epstein recently called the 34-year-old a “breath of fresh air.” — Connor Byrne.

• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs’ front-office hierarchy maybe not as ‘flat’ as they make it seem. Former assistant GM Shiraz Rehman said a few syllables.
• AP via Chicago Tribune: Blue Jays hire Charlie Montoyo as manager; Cubs coach Brandon Hyde was a candidate. “Montoyo has a three-year contract with a club option for 2022. He is to be introduced at a news conference Monday.”
• Ken Thompson (USA Today): Purdue fan Tyler Trent accepts opening day invitation from Cubs pitcher Jon Lester. “Consider Opening Day booked,” tweeted Lester.
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): The legs or the bat: If you could carry just one of Terrance Gore or Tommy La Stella, who gets the spot? “Almost every August, when the Cubs have been an apparent postseason team, the front office manages to acquire a burner on the cheap...”
• Mike Rosenbaum (MLB.com*): Trent Giambrone leads fellow Cubs on offensive strike in AFL. “...Cubs hitters provided much of the offense for Mesa on Friday...”

Today in baseball history:

• 1948 - On Lou Boudreau Day, held in his honor by the citizens of his hometown, Harvey (IL), the Indians skipper tells an audience his Indians were lucky to win the recent World Series. The Cleveland player-manager cites his infielders driving in more than 400 runs and the lack of injuries to key players as reasons why his “third-place” club excelled this season.
• 2016 - In the first World Series game played at Wrigley Field in 71 years, the Indians eke out a 1 - 0 victory over the Cubs in Game 3 of the 2016 World Series. Pinch-runner Michael Martinez scores the only run in the 7th when he is driven in from third base by pinch-hitter Coco Crisp’s single. Cody Allen ends the game by striking out Ben Zobrist with two runners in scoring position.

Box score.

• Cubs birthdays: Ed McDonald, Bill McCabe, Percy Jones, George Hennessey, Luis Marquez, Lenny Harris, Larry Casian, Esmailin Caridad, Justin Hancock.

Food for thought:

My second anthology dropped today. I’m so proud. This was last year’s edition.