Cub Tracks whisks away the shadows

I dunno about a ‘Muck Dog,’ Len Kasper, but I was imagining Miami meatloaf last night, and concluded that it would be something like a Cuban sandwich deconstructed. That may have been because we had Cuban sandwiches not long before, a connection which was completely serendipitous as my hosts are not baseball people and would have to have it all explained to them...

Daniel Descalso would like you to explain ‘clutch.’

Al’s recap will have details of yesterday’s tilt against the hapless Miami Marlins. Here we have only the latest and most scurrilous narratives for your perusal, in today’s Cubs News and Notes. As always, * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

“We were shocked by the racist, profanity-laced social media message sent to Carl Edwards Jr. earlier this month,” President Theo Epstein said in a statement from the Cubs. “We vehemently condemn the content of the message and are supporting Major League Baseball’s investigation to identify the person responsible.

“In a sport that celebrates diversity and unites people from all backgrounds, we are appalled anyone claiming to be a fan would send divisive and bigoted insults to a player. Whether spoken, posted or published, this type of reprehensible language and views cannot be tolerated in our game or society.”

• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Sources: MLB investigating racist messages sent to Cubs pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. on social media. “Edwards declined to comment...” Gordon Wittenmyer has words also.
• Brandon Doolittle (ESPN+ {$}): What if the Cubs had stopped making trades in 2016? “... there is often a crossroads moment that arrives for even a smartly built team, and the Cubs could be facing it.”
• Cody Benjamin (CBS Sports*): Cubs’ Yu Darvish manages to knock down three people with one 99-mph fastball. Been making the rounds, but still fun.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Darvish and Jose Quintana are displaying much-welcomed strikeout potential for the Cubs. “When you can punch out (batters), it takes a lot of pressure off (the defense),” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. Nolan Ryan would probably approve of the sentiment if not the actual meaning.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Carl Edwards Jr. heads to the AAA Injured List because of a hand injury. He slipped and fell and scraped his hand.
• David Schoenfield (ESPN*): The most feared lineups in baseball. “Scarier than you think lineup: Chicago Cubs (6.20 runs per game).”
• Christina De Nicola (MLB.com*): After HBP, heated Contreras hits back in big way. “Willson Contreras’ early-season success at the plate may be credited to a mechanical fix, but the Cubs won’t reveal his secret.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Anthony Rizzo is rooting for Daniel Vogelbach, his former first-base understudy with the Cubs. “Good for him,” Rizzo said. “That’s awesome. I saw him in spring training. I talked to him. I’ve always loved his swing.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Galloway robbery: Kris Bryant can’t buy a hit despite solid contact. “He’s working on a physical fix, but some of it might be mental.” Christina De Nicola adds on.
• Andre Fernandez (The Athletic {$}): ‘The kids used to call him Superman’: Cubs’ Albert Almora gives parents a nostalgic thrill in return to Miami. “Almora never needed a cape to look​ like a superhero when​​ he dove to make a spectacular catch on a baseball field somewhere in his hometown of Hialeah...”
• Tim Bannon (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs in the minors: Ian Happ is improving, Carl Edwards Jr. is stabilizing and Nico Hoerner is batting .300. “... the team does have several players recently sent down to rehab or to find their groove.”
• Jamie Nesbitt Golden (BlockClubChicago): Morgan Park’s Mustangs get brand new baseball field thanks to the Cubs — and one persistent coach. “It’s not just a baseball field, but something our school, players, parents and community can be proud of,” said Ernest Radcliffe.

Ban YU?

• Cubs birthdays: George Borchers, Danny Friend, Mal Moss, Mike Paul, Rich Bordi, Dennis Rasmussen, Alberto Gonzalez, Marcos Mateo. Also notable: Sam Crawford (HoF).

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading! Cats ROOL!