Cubs win!
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 3, 2018
Final: #Cubs 5, #Padres 4. #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/txZJTnGtnn
Báezball. pic.twitter.com/Qehiz4tL9w
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 3, 2018
As always * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).
Cubs News and Notes:
All of @Cubs Javier Báez home runs this season pic.twitter.com/ttfkqrQSKv
— Daren Willman (@darenw) August 3, 2018
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Jon Lester unhappy with recent performance, trying to make mechanical adjustments. “Before the break, I feel like I threw the ball a lot better than that San Diego start said,” Lester said.
- Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cole Hamels looks for longer outings as he gets into a routine with the Cubs. “Five innings is something I don’t like to do. I like to get more toward the eighth, and possibly the ninth,” he said.
- Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): Hamels on Cubs: ‘I’m glad I’m on their side’. “I like the idea that he could mentor, in a sense, some of the younger pitchers based on what he’s done,” Maddon said. “His method can be a very good influence on the guys.”
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Balancing Mike Montgomery’s innings and pitches is playing not to lose. “Maddon and the front office are trying to balance Montgomery’s usage against the unknown timelines for Yu Darvish and/or Drew Smyly.”
- Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Cubs may regret not adding lefty reliever before trade deadline. “Duensing has really been struggling,” manager Joe Maddon said after the game. “Overall, Justin has been pitching pretty good.”
- Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs not giving up on Brian Duensing yet. “...we want to make sure that he’s well and right, so we’re gonna choose this route right now,” said Maddon.
- Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo to remain in leadoff spot for a while. “...Rizzo isn’t giving Maddon much of a choice.”
- Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): The art of the swim move: Cubs perfecting the game’s most exciting slide. “It’s just another instance of “Javy being Javy.””
- Carrie Muskat (MLB.com*): ‘Complete player’ Javier Baez showcases talent in win. “Baez kept his MVP-caliber campaign going on Friday afternoon.”
- Randy Holt (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): On Javy Baez’ chances at an MVP. “Obviously we’re hoping that voters don’t live and die by the stat sheet.”
- Ken Schultz (Wrigleyville-Baseball Prospectus): Ben Zobrist: Changing history instead of his footwear. “Zobrist has cemented his place as one of the greatest free agents in Cubs history.”
- Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Cubs had to “back off” on Kris Bryant shoulder tests due to discomfort. “[Athletic trainer PJ Mainville] was putting [Bryant] through some tests and he still was feeling [discomfort] in different spots so he kind of backed off,” Joe Maddon told the Tribune. “I haven’t heard anything new.”
Food for thought:
Drought, wildfire, flooding, pollution, climate change: Beavers might be able to help with all of these. https://t.co/53ynpUje52
— Science News (@ScienceNews) August 4, 2018
Ancient hunter-gatherers didn’t all eat ‘paleo’ https://t.co/pBCNgFAKeu
— Popular Science (@PopSci) August 3, 2018
The ‘language gene’ probably didn’t give humans such a big evolutionary advantage that it was quickly adopted across the species. https://t.co/UOiISo3as0
— Science News (@ScienceNews) August 4, 2018
Thanks for reading.