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Plenty of tracks in Cub Tracks today — covers of Abbey Road. Inspired by Cooler by the Lake and Len Kasper, to whom all the credit should go. I’ll take the blame. Enjoy. Or not.

Less filling!

It was seemingly yesterday when we discussed Tyler Chatwood’s really high release point, Javy being Javy, the reason for dimples, and other bullets, and stood clear, beer after beer, of all controversy, following the second game of the four-game set-to between the Cubs and their newest, bestest rivals, the Milwaukee Brewsters Brewers, whose scores of millions of fans fill tankards schooners flagons ballparks to capacity all over the country, and whose recent successes and exploits are the stuff of derision legend.

So much so that I don’t even have to talk about them. So I shan’t. That saves you any more overlong sentences if not snide remarks, so you should thank the Brewers for that small courtesy.

Tastes Great!

Seriously, hating on Ryan Braun is not a rivalry. I’m just glad that Kirk Nieuwenhuis is gone from the team. Is he even in the league? (ETA: He’s in Seattle’s farm system) Maybe Eric Thames can be hateful. I sure don’t like his bat. They’re trying to be competitive and make themselves a rival, though, and I have to tip my hat to them.

Saturday afternoon, the two titans battled for I-94 bragging rights, having already won a game apiece during the series. The thumb of fate weighs heavy on the Cubs’ side now, and the meat loaf hangs in the balance. Yu know how it is.

Tommy La Stella “Looks like a Beatle on the cover of Abbey Road.” — Len Kasper.

“Thank you on the behalf of the group and myself”— you’ve been a good crowd. Now, let us be onto the linkage and madness. As always * means autoplay on (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

Cubs news and notes:

Ian Happ has three more strikeouts today to increase his total to 17 for the season, the most in the majors at the moment. According to Elias, the fastest to 20 strikeouts by a non pitcher came over the course of the players first 10 games. Several have accomplished it. Happ is playing in his 7th game this season. — Jesse Rogers

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo remained sidelined on Saturday because of stiffness in his lower back and was questionable for Sunday’s series finale against the Brewers.

”He’s doing better,” manager Joe Maddon said Saturday of Rizzo, who was scratched from Friday’s lineup. “Maybe [Sunday] but I’m not 100 percent sure. I don’t want to rush it.” — Carrie Muskat

“I honestly shouldn’t have thrown it,” Bryant said of his failed attempt to retire Hernan Perez at first base. “He was safe all the way. But I was trying to make the play. It didn’t work out. Sometimes that’s all it is. It’s a little frustrating. We’ll move on.” -- Mark Gonzales.

• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Cubs already know what Brewers bring to NL Central race: ‘It’s going to be a dogfight’. “We know they’re going to be there all year at the top of this division with us,” Kyle Hendricks said.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times*): Yu Darvish looks like 126 million bucks as Cubs winter vision plays out vs. Crew. “As advertised,” manager Joe Maddon said. “The way Yu pitched and the way Morrow followed it up, that’s exactly what you think you’re going to get when you research and acquire these guys in the offseason.”
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Darvish, Morrow show Cubs their worth in win. “They definitely showed up today,” said Maddon.
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Cubs get the Yu Darvish they paid for in comeback win vs. Brewers. “I changed a little bit of my slider, which worked out really well today,” Darvish said through his interpreter.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times*): To Morrow… and to Morrow… and to Morrow, season creeps at petty pace for Cub. “We had to reintroduce ourselves to him,” teammate Jon Lester said.
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs bullpen off to a historic start. “...the narrative has changed quickly around the relief corps.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Simple approach at plate proving successful for Cubs’ Tommy La Stella. “He knows what he’s doing,” Maddon said.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): All or nothing: Cubs can only hope this is a turning point for Happ. “That’s got to make him feel good,” Maddon said.
• Doug Glanville (NBC Sports Chicago*): Fans should just relax and enjoy Cubs despite slow start. “...we look upon this time with perspective.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs line up stars — including Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg and Loyola — for opening homestand festivities. Sorry I’m gonna miss it.
• PM Newswire: Comcast teams up with Chicago Cubs on multi-year technology and marketing partnership. This has a lot of implications.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Chris Bosio opens up about his exit from the Cubs. “Oh God, a lot of good memories,” Bosio said. “I love this city.”

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading! Opening Day at Wrigley tomorrow!