Cub Tracks’ working title

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).

• Duncan Wallis (msabr.com): 2019 Season Preview: Chicago Cubs. “An uncharacteristically quiet offseason resulted in a lot of upset fans, but maybe a more motivated team than ever.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): How Tommy Hottovy is making a seamless transition as the new Cubs pitching coach. “... Hottovy also might have been the only person uniquely qualified for this job.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): ‘We want to carry the innings load’: Cubs starters vow to relieve brittle bullpen. “It could definitely help,” Kyle Hendricks said.
• Bruce Miles (Daily Herald {$}): Around the Horn: Cubs need Yu Darvish to return to form. “What Kris Bryant is to the Chicago Cubs offense, Darvish is to their starting-pitching staff.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs reliever Brandon Morrow ‘in a good place’ after throwing his 1st bullpen session. “He threw only 20 pitches but did so with ease and a zip on his fastball ...”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Anthony Iapoce: Today’s hitters need to be ‘hybrid hitter’. ‘You can’t just be one-sided or you’re going to miss stuff,’ Iapoce said.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): With spring training ending, where are the Cubs at with Addison Russell? “This has always been very conditional,” general manager Jed Hoyer said Sunday. Brett Taylor also has thoughts.
• Madeleine Kenney (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cristhian Adames impresses Cubs manager Joe Maddon: ‘He’s had a hell of a spring’. “The fact he plays multiple defensive positions, he’s a switch hitter, he’s been a really good baserunner this camp, too,” Maddon said.
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider): Beyond obvious blue chips, these Cubs prospects are worth your investment. “If Nico Hoerner was a stock, investors would be bullish on his outlook. “
• Cubs Birthdays: Richie Ashburn (HoF), Paul Smith, Garry Jestadt, David Ross.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.