Cub Tracks drops one

Congratulations are in order for Javier Baez, Willson Contreras, and Jon Lester, who were named to the NL All-Star team.

Congratulations are also in order for Kyle Hendricks, who seems to have solved his mechanical difficulties, based on last night’s results (8⅓, nice). I’m gonna blame Anthony Rizzo and Baez falling asleep on the one play on tiredness. Afternoon games, a late flight, and a late start on West Coast time isn’t exactly a recipe for success.

That could have ended better. Ugh. Cutch needs better bats.

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

Cubs News and Notes:

Kris Bryant hits homer in rehab stint [VIDEO].

A magical year? Asks Patrick Mooney {$}.

• Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Baez, Contreras, Lester tabbed NL All-Stars. “Both those guys deserve it,” Lester said of Contreras and Baez.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Lester is the greatest free-agent signing in Chicago sports history. “You’re seeing a guy that really understands his craft,” said Joe Maddon.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs rotation needs Kyle Hendricks, Jose Quintana to start clicking. “It’s just a matter of time,” Theo Epstein said.
• Sean Hammond (Daily Herald {$}): Steve Cishek, Anthony Bass getting job done out of Chicago Cubs’ bullpen. “I don’t think it matters what school you go to,” said Cishek.
• Sam Fels (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): The bullpen danger on the horizon. “...it would behoove everyone involved if the Cubs rotation could start picking up their relievers and stick around for more than an hour each game.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Joe Maddon says Willson Contreras is the best catcher in the NL, maybe in baseball. “….Willson, on the other hand, he’s pretty much fought, fought, fought his way,” said Maddon.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Greater commitment to hydration has helped Contreras’ durability. “That’s helped me a whole lot this year, especially with how hot it’s been recently,” he said.
• Brian Sandalow (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Bored Kris Bryant confident return to Cubs’ lineup will come soon. “It’s been really boring. Really boring for me to kind of sit back and not be out there,” Bryant said.
• Mike Wilson (Knoxville News-Sentinel {$}): Bryant: Tennessee Smokies ‘probably my favorite’ minor league stop. “The people here are great. The stadium is great. The city is great. It’s good to be back,” he said.
• John Grochowski (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): BABiP aside, Cubs center fielder Albert Almora offers real value. “...the offensive uptick has Almora performing at star level.”

Food For Thought:

Thanks for reading.