Cub Tracks travels light

So, for the first time since 1965, the Cubs faced the Red Sox in Arizona. A good time was had by all. Another game takes place this afternoon, and then Opening Day is Thursday. I’m ready for the real games to begin, and will be at the ballpark in spirit.

Rick Porcello just about lost his head. Talk about traveling light! Good thing his coconut isn’t hollow. Didn’t hurt his arm any, though. I wonder what the air speed of that ball was? I was half-expecting it to go over the fence.

Would that be a ground-rule double or a homer? Inquiring minds wanna know.

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).

• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): How Theo Epstein has changed from Boston to Chicago. “ ... he knows himself better. He knows how to be a leader, and he knows what he’s looking for in people around him,” said Jed Hoyer.

• Bruce Miles (Daily Herald {$}): Cubs: Dynamic of Cubs coaching staff has changed. “For his part, Joe Maddon seems to be embracing the latest changes.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): With no last-minute acquisitions anticipated, Cubs’ opening roster all but set. “It’s still possible the Cubs will add a player from a waiver claim or trade to fill an opening on the roster, but (president Theo) Epstein said the likelihood is ‘‘pretty high’’ those who will make up the final mix are already in-house.”
• (Chicago Tribune* {$}): ‘October really starts in March’: Epstein reinforces Cubs’ sense of urgency with latest moves. “ ... every game really counts, and we like the way it feels when we go out and show what we can do and play good baseball.”
• Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Attention will be paid: Inside the Cubs’ detail-laden plan to get their edge back. “It’s hard to define playing with “an edge” and a “sense of urgency,” but you know it when you see it.”

• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs take old-school approach with rotation. “Chicago is heading into the 2019 campaign with, arguably, the most traditional rotation in baseball.”
• Steve Greenberg (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs 2019 preview: Why Kyle Hendricks can’t stop talking to himself. “If being boringly excellent is wrong, the Cubs don’t want Hendricks ever to be right.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs leader Jon Lester on Ian Happ’s demotion: ‘I feel this will do him a lot of good’. “ ... right now he’s in compete mode like, ‘Hey, you just hit me in the mouth.’”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Addison Russell’s work in Arizona is far from over as Cubs teammates wrap up spring training. “Theo Epstein has not guaranteed that Russell will return, merely re-emphasizing the steps Russell must complete to show he has become a better citizen.”
• Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider): More vocal Kris Bryant feels like ‘he can say things’. “I like to sit back and listen, but when I have something to say, I’m going to say it.”
• Rick Morrissey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Here’s hoping Albert Almora Jr. grabs Cubs’ center-field job and doesn’t let go. “They’re at their best defensively when he’s in center field.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Mark Zagunis on breaking camp with Cubs: ‘I get chills just thinking about it’. ‘‘I worked really hard and just hope I make the Opening Day roster,’’ he said. Mark Gonzales has more.
• Phil Thompson (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Wrigley Field expands food, beer options: beer-can chicken, Impossible burger, disco fries and more. As reported on the front page, and then some. Eater Chicago piles it on.
• Cubs birthdays: Jack McCarthy, Jimmy Lavender, Jose Vizcaino, Jason Maxwell, Jason Dubois, Rob Zastryzny.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.