Cub Tracks gets jazzed

“We’re going to extra innings,” he said evenly. “No more of this one-hitter talk -- that’s silly and it cannot be allowed. Give it a break.”

Yeah. I’ll take five. Five in the eleventh, that is. Al will have details in his recap.

The team is starting to round into shape, looking like it’s come full circle since 2016. I like this groove. The bullpen might want to take notes.

Here’s the news — as always * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

Cubs News and Notes:

“Joe Maddon says Yu Darvish (triceps) will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday in Milwaukee after playing catch back in Chicago on Monday. Carl Edwards Jr (shoulder) will throw tomorrow as well. Neither has a time table for returning.” -- Jesse Rogers.

“Hey, Anthony Rizzo has now homered in every inning 1 through 13 in his MLB career. He was missing the 11th entering tonight.” — Christopher Kamka.

“The Cubs knocked Josh Hader out of the game after a 35 pitch effort over 1.2 innings as he walked two in the eighth inning but the big blow -- to tie the game -- was Jason Heyward turning on a 95 mph fastball for a line drive single to right. It was just the third hit from a lefty off Hader this season and it came with an exit velocity of 107 mph, the second hardest hit ball off Hader all year (Justin Bour, 110 mph), according to Statcast.” — Jesse Rogers.

• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Sharma’s state of the team: Where the Cubs sit as they enter a critical week. “...this season’s story will tell itself as it goes.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Joe Maddon’s relative to sign with rival Brewers. Joe Baran (son of Maddon’s first cousin) was drafted by and likely will sign with Milwaukee.
• John Grochowski (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): A by-the-numbers look at the Cubs’ All-Star chances. “... seven North Siders are among the 38 National League position players at 1.4 WAR or better, as calculated at Baseball-Reference.com.”
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Cubs among leaders in first NL ballot update. Eight Cubs showed well. Four are second at their positions, another third.
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Maddon downplays early-season set vs. Crew. “It’s Monday. It’s Monday in June,” Maddon said. “Every game is the biggest game of the year, regardless of who you’re playing,” he said.
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): An underrated key to Cubs’ recent hot streak? Better in-game adjustments. “We’ve done a good job of making adjustments mid-game on the fly,” Jason Heyward said.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): More challenges await Cubs’ Brian Duensing. “It just felt like I got away with a lot of stuff early, to be honest,” he said.
• P{atrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Anthony Rizzo’s guide to surviving a Cubs season. “We’re engaged every day,” Rizzo said.
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Rizzo’s HR sparks 5-run 11th to put Cubs in 1st. “He now has driven in a run in each of his last eight games and has 23 RBI in his last 22 games.”
• Robert Kuenster (Forbes*): Chicago Cubs’ Javier Baez is much more than a defensive star. “...he has given the pennant-ambitious Cubs an added extra with his dramatic base running and his streaky offensive contributions.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Tommy La Stella has molded himself into one of baseball’s best pinch hitters. “Everyone is always their (own) best hitting coach,” La Stella said.
• Jeff Burdick (Cubs Insider): Analysis of Russell-Baez shortstop debate more intriguing with Manny Machado in the picture. “Who should play shortstop?”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Cubs pitching prospect Adbert Alzolay will be out past the All-Star break. “... it only makes sense that the Cubs are going to play it very safe with the recovery timeline.”
• Peter J. Wallner (MLive.com): Jenison’s Dakota Mekkes continues tear through Chicago Cubs’ system. “...Mekkes hasn’t let off the gas in his rapid rise through the Chicago Cubs’ farm system.”
• Praveen Puri (Chicago Business Journal): What the Chicago Cubs can teach tech companies about user design. “They now focus on the end results...”
• Clayton Trutor (Down the Drive): Conversations with Clayton: Kyle Farnsworth. “...the Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry, playing semi-pro football and his longevity in the Major Leagues.”

Food For Thought:

• Maria Temming (Science News): A new AI can focus on one voice in a crowd. “The program can identify and suppress background noise using both visual and audio cues.”
• Alexandra Sifferin (Time*): Here’s why you get hangry, according to science. “...people who are less aware of their emotional states may be more likely to react with hanger.”
• Emily Conover (Science News): The sun shrinks a teensy bit when it’s feeling active. “Its radius decreases by 1 or 2 kilometers during periods of high solar activity.”

Thanks for reading.