Cub Tracks’ mettle men

In the interest of milking the drama from every moment by overhyping everything, let me just say that this is the best Cub Tracks ever, at the outset, the onset, the preface as it were, and thank you, Bruce Wolf.

The next Cub Tracks will be the next best. Ads infinitum. We aim to please, and we aim low.

“The column we need right now” — Joe Maddon.

“I am Groot” — Iron Maddon.

See what I mean? But seriously, folks, the postseason galumphed along, with a tilt between the Astros, who used to be an NL team (and still would be if the Diamondbacks had cooperated), and the damnYankees. An elimination game, no less.

I admit I watched. Didn’t you? I bet you did. Gleyber Torres looks damn good. I’m not grousing — not only was there no way to know that he would have been THIS, but Aroldis Chapman was instrumental in the Cubs World Series-winning campaign. Perhaps if he had sung, things would have been even better.

Instead, we got Ben Zobrist’s ex-wife, gods rest her vocal cords. Such a stark contrast. Her mettle was tested, all right.

Here’s today’s Cubs News and Notes. As always, * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used here as sarcasm font.

• Katherine Acquavella, Mike Axisa, & R.J. Anderson (CBS Sports*): MLB manager tracker, rumors: Buck Showalter, Dusty Baker among Phillies’ finalists; Angels hire Joe Maddon.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Would Cubs have won World Series without Joe Maddon? ‘We’ll never know,’ Angels’ new skipper says. ““I want to believe I had something to contribute to it,” says Maddon.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): The moment David Ross became the key player in the Cubs’ manager search. “Ross was the emergency third catcher the Red Sox acquired in August 2008 — after he got released by the Reds — to back up Jason Varitek and Kevin Cash.” Evan Altman unpacks this a little. Grey Papke finds more packing peanuts.
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): Cubs Prospect Stock Watch: These 7 players could have huge growth in 2020. “... the mix includes draft picks, international kids, and some more seasoned players who’ve been doing a slow burn to this point.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): The way Jason Heyward was a star in 2019. “When he was batting anywhere but the leadoff spot, Heyward hit a very solid .286/.373/.471 (119 wRC+)*.”
• Cubs birthdays: Marty Sullivan, Skel Roach, Jigger Statz, Leon Brinkopf. Also notable: Mickey Mantle (HoF), Juan Marichal (HoF).
• Three years ago:

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.