Cub Tracks comes up short

Chili today? Hot tamale! Maybe the Cubs can get meatloaf today, from some LA diner. Pretty spirited comeback last night, just not enough. Kenley Jansen should be illegal. Kyle Hendricks got too much plate too often and got pounded. Justin Turner got testy.

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Cubs News and Notes:

The Cubs’ view is that the power to change this situation is Sosa’s alone. “It’s never been our position that we want Sammy to wear a hair shirt and sit in front of Wrigley and be punished for weeks on end,” says a team source. “This is simply, ‘I messed up, and there’s something to learn from it, and I’d love to get back in the fold.’ It would take one sentence.”

It’s the one sentence Sosa won’t say. “I never failed a drug test,” he says today.

“There’s a couple guys like that in Major League Baseball -- [Francisco] Lindor is another guy like that, [Ozzie] Albies, the new kid in Atlanta,” Maddon said. “There’s two things that set them apart beyond their abilities -- they really enjoy playing, there’s a joy about them, and they’re absolutely fearless. Of course, you have to be good. Fearlessness and pure joy for the game stands out.

”[Baez] is a perfect example of what Major League Baseball needs to highlight.” — Carrie Muskat.

“Sometimes you go through times like this and it’s not the end of the world. We’ve been through this before. We’re going to get out of it. We’ll be better for it.” — Kris Bryant.

Cubs GM Jed Hoyer provided more clarity on the timeline of Kris Bryant’s shoulder injury which occurred a month ago on a slide. Initially, Bryant kept it to himself.. Hoyer: “It’s the kind of shoulder injury you can manage and deal with until you can’t.” Hoyer also thought its possible the injury zapped some of his power in June, though Bryant didn’t think that was the case. More Hoyer: “I don’t think we would know. I don’t think he would know...Certainly it was nagging at him.” — Jesse Rogers.

• (Sports Illustrated): Sammy Sosa’s next act, and why the Cubs aren’t in it. “Look at what I am today,” he says, motioning a hand toward the opulence around him. “This is my life, and I don’t take garbage from nobody. I do whatever I want.”
• Teddy Greenstein (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Real Sammy Sosa revealed in SI piece: Ernie Banks ‘has a statue, and I don’t have nothing.’ Most people will probably agree with Greenstein.
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Being a sore loser made Jon Lester into the ultimate winner. “He loves the competition of the game and beating other lineups, but I see it as he’s in competition with himself,” said Theo Epstein.
• Jay Jaffe (Fangraphs): Jon Lester’s high-wire act. “...Lester is nowhere near the top of the NL pitching WAR leaderboard.”
• Grey Papke (Larry Brown Sports): Yu Darvish explains family reasons behind Dodgers exit. “...he wanted to remain with the Dodgers, but he felt he and his family wouldn’t be able to overcome the antipathy that fans felt toward him.”
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Darvish could return as early as Saturday. “If it doesn’t go well or he’s sore afterward or he just doesn’t feel he can go Saturday, we’ll have some clarity about the rotation,” Jed Hoyer said.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Carl Edwards Jr. could be back with Cubs real soon. “Edwards...may need only one minor-league rehab appearance Friday or Saturday.”
• David Schoenfield (ESPN*): Every team’s best gem ever: Kerry Wood makes Cubs an easy call. “Wood finished with a Game Score of 105, the highest ever for a nine-inning game.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs ‘searching’ again in June, but they trust the switch will be there to flip. ‘‘There’s no panic in this clubhouse,’’ outfielder Ian Happ said.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs’ secret recipe for success? Chili with meet. “...hitting coach Chili Davis had called for a pregame meeting.”
• Bruce Miles (Daily Herald {$}): Lester, Baez playing like all-stars for Chicago Cubs. “Each player has been a godsend for the Cubs on his respective side of the ball.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): How Javier Báez is becoming the star Major League Baseball needs now. “The kid with the logo tattoo has grown up and become his own billboard...”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider): Cubs Prospect Profile: Speed merchant Fernando Kelli opening eyes in Eugene. “...he’s still a teenager for another month and is playing one level above most of his peers.”
• Doug Glanville (NBC Sports Chicago*): Doug Glanville remembers Yosh Kawano, the captain of Cubs past. “Nothing was free, except his advice.”
• Ashok Selvam (Eater Chicago): Cubs reveal Spiaggia Chef Tony Mantuano’s fancy fan food at Wrigley. “Mantuano’s residency goes from Friday through July 8”

Food For Thought:

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