Cub Tracks’ cold open

To be read, if you have any sense, to the sound of the new Claypool/Lennon Delirium album, South of Reality. I can’t get enough of it.

Not that I’m claiming stochasticism or mystic augury, but even a stopped clock is right once a day. Viz the BCB staff roundtable:

Duane Pesice: I don’t think the starting staff will last.

Al Yellon: Which starters won’t last?

Duane Pesice: Lester.

I want to be wrong. I apologize in advance for any bad juju generated or putting thoughts into the air. I fear a recurrent condition. Please let me be wrong.

Duane Pesice (from the director’s cut): I’m still worried about Lester.

The good thing is, I am wrong more often than chance would seem to indicate. And I am often wrong for the right reasons. I remember composing an entire roster a couple of years ago... full of defensive guys who could draw a walk, and pitchers who didn’t throw them. Not a single player was retained by the Cubs. All of them ended up on 40-man rosters, though — so I got that going for me. No flowing robes, precious little grace, not much for final wisdom, but saturation coverage.

My friend Mark, who is a lifetime Sox fan, calls this activity “being wrong at the top of your lungs”. I’ll have you know that this is not incorrect, even considering the source... some of my best friends are Sox fans, you know... they know from being wrong, too. Mercy!

And upon this flimsy premise I base my conclusion. The odds favor my wrongness. SSS this! I know Murphy personally... trust me. I’m not like the others.

Onward — 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).

• Satchel Price (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs’ estimated value surpasses $3 billion while White Sox see growth, too. “It remains a good time to own a Major League Baseball team...” More from Cubs Insider.
• Jayson Stark (The Athletic {$}): Are MLB managers becoming obsolete? “The game has changed,” said baseball’s winningest, most experienced manager, the Giants’ Bruce Bochy.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): “The Cubs are off to a poor start reminiscent of the 1997 team — but the outcome should be different...” “... any resemblance between the 1997 Cubs and the 2019 version is purely coincidental.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Lester (left hamstring) placed on injured list. “We’re not going to create a finish line,” Maddon said of Lester’s timetable.
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs see Yu Darvish moving in the right direction. “But hopefully he can build on the positives and have a good start on Wednesday night,” said Theo Epstein. Inches closer, but still looking for results. Bruce Miles adds on.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Yu turn? Darvish chases away Wrigley boos in focused, aggressive start for Cubs. “... Darvish took the mound with short sleeves and no face covering – then started pounding the strike zone.”
• Michel Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Well, here we go: Tyler Chatwood will start in place of Lester on Sunday. “... if all goes well, this should be Chatwood’s only spot start for now.” Evan Altman concurs.
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): How the Cubs plan to line up their rotation in Jon Lester’s absence. Sahadev Sharma {$} elaborates.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): If Craig Kimbrel’s out of the question, here’s how the Cubs will fix their bullpen. “Not everyone can make the team,” Epstein said.
• ESPN: Kap and Boyle talk to Anthony Rizzo [AUDIO].
• Corey Freedman (Cubs Insider): Jason Heyward blasts fourth home run in last five games. “... through the teeth of a harsh Wrigley Field wind.”
• Burt Constable (Daily Herald* {$}): 25 years after shooting, Wayne Messmer sings in key of life. “The true value of a moment isn’t realized until it becomes a memory,” he said.
• Cubs birthdays: Hank Schenz, Robin Jennings, Andres Blanco.

Food for thought: