Cub Tracks smokes the competition

Enjoyable to see Kyle Hendricks look like his old self again. I’m sure Russell Johnson and Roy Hinkley will profess to approve...

A three-hour game should be over by 4:20 Chicago time. Now here’s Afro Man with a medley of his hit:

Carl’s Jr in Denver is offering infused burgers today. I just thought you should know.

Aaaand now we’ll dispense with all of that and get on with the real big shoe — today’s Cubs News and Notes. As always, * means autoplay on, or annoying ads, or both (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome).

• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): How the .500 Cubs recovered from such a bad start. “It just feels good to be playing good baseball,” said Kyle Hendricks.
• ESPN: Hendricks talks about his win [VIDEO].
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Hendricks finds feel in masterful 11-K start. “All the things we’ve been working on finally clicked,” Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy said. Tony Andracki concurs.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Will walk-happy Yu Darvish get things under control? Cubs manager Joe Maddon isn’t concerned. “I’m Yu Darvish, I walk guys.”
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago): The Cubs are mixing up their rotation as Jon Lester nears return. They’re “handing Tyler Chatwood the ball for the finale with the Diamondbacks Easter Sunday.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Maddon is not so much about the bat flips. “At core, it’s not *really* about the bat flips.”

• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs leading MLB in Oppo Slugging, absolutely mashing with two strikes. “... there are some very positive signs in the early going.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Addison Russell on target for May return to Cubs. “Maddon said the Cubs have not discussed a scenario in which Russell would be optioned to the Minors to give him more at-bats prior to returning.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Javier Báez could be doing even better, while Kris Bryant needs to keep pulling for power. “... right now is the perfect time to make some grand conclusions about a small sample of games at a completely arbitrary point.”
• Madeleine Kenney (Chicago Sun-Times {$}): Cubs star Kris Bryant has big day at plate after early-season struggles. “... something clicked against the Diamondbacks.”
• Craig Edwards (Fangraphs): Jason Heyward’s surprising new strategy for success will shock you. “... Heyward isn’t hitting as many ground balls or infield flies...”
• David Haugh (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs employees with cerebral palsy are just part of the team at Wrigley Field: ‘Almost every day I prove people wrong’. “It’s just really cool having them work here and love the Cubs,’’ Ron Coomer said.
• Cubs birthdays: Charlie Smith, Milt Wilcox, Mike O’Berry, Todd Hollandsworth. Also notable: Dave Bancroft (HoF).

Food for thought: