Cub Tracks pitches out of trouble

Cubs Win! Holy gamethread word!

Last time through the turn-style, Cub Tracks spilled the beans about Area X, the clutch factor, the rules of silence, and other bullets. Today we’ll have articles about and and. But first, a few words from our non-sponsor:

WORDS

Smoltz uttered out loud the nonword (to me) irregardless. I do not like him, Son of Sam. I do not like him in a park, I do not like him in the dark, I do not like him on the air, I do not like him anywhere. Well, except for the golf course, where I can safely ignore him.

John Smoltz isn’t dumb but he sure takes a long time to get to the point. He clearly doesn’t want to be at the game or announcing or something. Maybe he wants to go golfing. Certain people I know were on the twitters noticing the same thing.

Plus it’s irritating me that the Cubs aren’t burying this sad-sack ball club. That first inning will bother me for a long time. What in the eitch-e-double toothpicks was that?

Fortunately Albert Almora Jr. broke the door DOWN and the others followed, so it doesn’t matter quite as much. Happy 14th!

No longer do They Remain on the field. I was gonna write some about the movie, but it’d be better if you just watched it. As always * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

Cubs News and Notes:

“I did not talk to anybody today about Yu.” — Joe Maddon

Joe Maddon discussed the 37-year-old Ben Zobrist after the Cubs 7-4 win. He’s been hot lately, collecting 3 more hits on Friday raising his batting average to .304: “Those are great, example setting at-bats. It’s incredible, with rest, we can keep that guy frisky. He can really still play...Whatever he’s doing, I’d like a taste. He’s the Ponce de LeZobrist.” -- Jesse Rogers

• ESPN: Almora discusses his hit in the 14th [VIDEO].
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Cubs take marathon from Mets with 6-run 14th. “The Cubs struck out a season-high 24 times on Saturday night, but Almora made contact when it counted.”
• Peter Botte (NY Daily News): Mets waste (another) Jacob deGrom gem, fall to Cubs as bullpen implodes in 14th inning. “...you know the rest by now.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times*): How Cubs’ Tyler Chatwood identifies with Yu Darvish and why he sees big rebound coming. “It’s a matter of clicking and get rolling and then don’t lose that feeling,’’ Chatwood said.
• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): On anniversary, Randy Rosario looks back at debut. “[Rosario] gets out righties and lefties, and he’s not afraid, and I love him for that,” manager Joe Maddon said on Saturday.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Rosario’s fine job could earn him bigger relief role for Cubs. “Left-hander Rosario bailed Chatwood out of a jam in the sixth inning Friday night...”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): The Cubs need Justin Wilson to step up in a moment of need. “Having leads consistently lost by a shaky group of relievers is one of the more demoralizing ways to go about a summer for a baseball team.”
• Jeff Burdick (Cubs Insider): Grading Cubs defense overall and by position. “My grades also rely as much on good old eyeballing and a healthy appreciation of fundamentals as on stats.”
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): How baseball’s best pinch hitter delivers off the bench. “He’s the best I’ve ever seen at it. I’ve never seen a better pinch hitter in my time playing baseball,” said Ben Zobrist.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Happy healthy Zobrist providing spark for Cubs. “The risk in playing Zobrist for an extended period is that he could wear down as he did two seasons ago.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times*): What will it take for Albert Almora Jr. to get his chance to start every day? Perhaps a 2 RBI hit in the 14th?
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): After stocking up on pitchers in previous drafts, Cubs could replenish supply of hitters. “The Cubs’ second pick isn’t until No. 62, but with five of the first 98 picks, they have an opportunity to stockpile some position-player depth.”
• Nick Melotte (Minor-League Ball): Cubs War Room. “The time has come and now we draft.” Mock-draft.
• George Castle (Chicago Baseball Museum): Andre Dawson the water-safety advocate could make another splash with Cubs kids. “Let’s say I’m all over the place,” Dawson said.

Food For Thought:

Thanks for reading.