Cubs win!
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 28, 2018
Final: #Cubs 7, #Mets 4. #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/LdQ2J9fjiT
Bob Odenkirk, born in Berwyn, former Naperville resident and all-around bon vivant, ‘sang’ the 7th inning stretch. I love most of his work — the singing part, not so much. But I’d be okay if that tradition just died, anyway. It’s yielded some classic comedy moments — Ozzy Osbourne, Mike Ditka, fresh from the golf course and the 19th hole, but overall, it’s an excuse to go and get a fresh drink or perform a toilet.
We’ve retained @mrbobodenkirk’s services for the evening. #LetsGetSomeRuns pic.twitter.com/0uTPMyIYRG
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 28, 2018
Fortunately, Jon Lester brought his good sh stuff, the Cubs hammered Thor, and they outlasted the Mets for a victory, though the 9th inning nearly broke bad for them until Jesse Chavez quelled the rally, preventing any Austin Jackson action to cap off the sixth win in a row. Al has the details in his recap.
WATCH: Fearless #Cubs fan chugs his beer after foul ball lands in it: https://t.co/HsoYmZGEkg pic.twitter.com/t9YSlzTBmt
— CubsHQ (@ChicagoCubsHQ) August 28, 2018
Music if you want it:
As always * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).
Cubs News and Notes:
Final line for @Cubs RHP Tyler Chatwood in his first rehab outing with @IowaCubs -- 4.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 3 K. 77 pitches, 39 strikes, 38 balls. Aside from 2nd inning, looked pretty sharp.
— Alex Cohen (@voiceofcohen) August 28, 2018
Congrats to @ARizzo44 on his 1,000th career hit with the @Cubs! pic.twitter.com/DAzesTiZVl
— Cubs Authentics (@CubsAuthentics) August 28, 2018
Kris Bryant will spend at least a couple days at Triple-A as he completes rehab on his left shoulder. The Cubs are in no hurry to bring him back and will let him determine when he feels he’s ready and his timing is down. He’s been out since late July, already having experienced one setback. Worst case, as long as he’s healthy, he could be back up on Saturday when rosters expand. — Jesse Rogers.
@KrisBryant_23 pic.twitter.com/Blf5Kr9nSr
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) August 27, 2018
Sources: #Cubs will go their own way in a television venture starting in late 2019, ending partnership with NBC Sports Chicago, Bulls, White Sox and Blackhawkshttps://t.co/vc8sD0Arz7 via @MLBBruceLevine pic.twitter.com/CKSfecwJmi
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) August 27, 2018
- Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): ‘It’s a great time to be us’: The future Cubs TV network is coming into focus. “The Cubs have hired longtime sports executive Mike McCarthy as a consultant to help the franchise sort through its multimedia options, a source confirmed Monday.”
- Bruce Miles (Daily Herald {$}): Report: Cubs inch closer to creating their own TV network. “WSCR radio reported Monday that the Cubs will end their association with NBC Sports Chicago.”
- Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Cubs’ bats tough on Syndergaard, Mets’ ‘pen. “Facing Mets aces Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom on back-to-back days was going to be a good test for the Cubs’ offense.”
- Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Lester busy with 2-run single, pickoff vs. Mets. “Lester did it all for the Cubs on Monday night, hitting a two-run single, deftly fielding his position and helping start a rundown with a perfect throw to first.”
- Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Mike Montgomery set to make start against Braves. “I’ll be ready to go,” Montgomery said.
- Bob Nightengale (USA Today*): Cole Hamels breathing new life into Cubs rotation in career renaissance. “There hasn’t been a pitcher in nearly a century who has been traded during the season and dominated like Hamels.”
- Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}):Why Hamels’ Cubs turnaround is more than just a change of scenery. “He was going to his lesser pitches to try and get out of bad situations rather than making the changes necessary to utilize his best stuff.”
- Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Carl Edwards Jr. tries to gain control of control issues. “I think I’ve had a pretty good season so far,” said Edwards.
- Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Despite slow process, Cubs closer Brandon Morrow vows: `I will be back’. “If they want to ease me in slowly they can pick the spots,” he said.
- Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): The Cubs may have found someone to keep in righty Allen Webster. “...keep an eye out for him to come to Chicago after Iowa’s season ends.”
- Tim Britton (The Athletic {$}): If the Mets want to prioritize defense, they should look at the Cubs. “Chicago has what seems like a dozen players capable of playing premium defensive positions.”
- Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): As Cubs get their offensive swagger back, they know a huge test awaits. “...the Cubs are going up against some really good pitching the next few weeks.”
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs slugging away notion of ‘Chili effect’ with recent power surge. “...the idea isn’t so much about not wanting to hit homers as it is not needing to hit them.”
- Will Leitch (MLB.com*): Ben Zobrist is most overlooked player on Cubs. “Zobrist is having his best year with the bat since 2012.”
- Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Laura Ricketts: ‘I was on board’ with Cubs’ trade for Daniel Murphy. And that concludes our series. Cool your jets.
- Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs’ Kris Bryant scores twice in first minor-league game. Bryant went 0-for-3 with a walk and reached on a two-base error.
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Bryant’s new golf swing may increase power, particularly to the opposite field. “I like it,” Mike Bryant told CI of the two-handed move. “More oppo power.”
- Dave Reynolds (The Pantagraph* {$}): Cubs icon Mark Grace remembers fondly his time in Peoria. “...Grace returned Saturday to the city where it all started for him in professional baseball.”
Food for thought:
Do fireflies light up to drive bats away? New research in @ScienceAdvances could challenge current theories: https://t.co/i0Z2pLPFYj pic.twitter.com/Ar50VwWoIo
— Science Magazine (@sciencemagazine) August 25, 2018
Breathing dirty air exacts a price — specifically, months, or even years, off of life. https://t.co/dQRdIe2xDc
— Science News (@ScienceNews) August 28, 2018
These gems are rare bits of Earth’s recycling. https://t.co/WFk3Ai99Ca
— Popular Science (@PopSci) August 27, 2018
Thanks for reading.