Cub Tracks loafs around

“How big does that insurance run look now?” — Len Kasper.

Meatloaf. Nom nom nom. I like mine topped with three-run dingers, how about you?

The Cubs are the first team since the Blue Jays in 2010 to hit multiple 2 out, 3 run homers (or better) in the same inning. Pretty rare feat. — Jesse Rogers

12-10 works for me. That’s all I have to say. 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).

• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Will Chicagoans drink Joe Maddon’s beer, buy his pasta sauce and eat at his restaurant if he’s managing elsewhere next year? “Maddon said he wants to return, naturally, but doesn’t think it should matter if he’s here or not.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs skip the pitching fads and let starters go deep into games, giving the bullpen a break. “In the Cubs’ last 10 games entering Wednesday night, the starters have averaged 6.4 innings per start.”
• RJ Anderson (CBS Sports*): Jose Quintana and altered approach continues Cubs’ run of impressive starting pitching. “... it appears Quintana is on track for a big bounce-back season.” Sahadev Sharma {$} elaborates.
• Russell Dorsey (MLB.com*): Jon Lester set for Thursday return to face Dodgers. “I’m saying 75-80 sounds like the right kind of number,” said Maddon, referring to Lester’s pitch count. Michael Cerami has thoughts. Tony Andracki does, too.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Will Cubs really activate Addison Russell as soon as suspension ends? “An immediate activation seems a bit strange for several reasons...”
• Tommy Birch (Des Moines Register* {$}): Iowa manager says Russell is ‘locked in and ready to rock’. “I think he’s pretty excited,” Marty Pevey said. “He’s a baseball player. He prepares well physically and mentally.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs’ Javier Baez is among the best players Joe Maddon has managed. “From the first time I saw him in 2015, I said to the guys ‘we’re a better team when Javy is on the field,’“ Maddon said.
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): What makes David Bote so good in the clutch? “... he’ll always carry the label...”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Through the highs and lows, Kyle Schwarber has the same blue-collar mentality: ‘Go work.’ “Schwarber’s career has been marked by dizzying highs and crushing lows.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Every single Jason Heyward stat is ridiculous right now, and I’ve really gotta shout something. “... his numbers are just kinda bizarre (and generally great!) across the board.”
• Cubs birthdays: Pete Standridge, Marty Shay, Fred Haney, Roy Parmelee, Dave Owen, Erik Pappas, Jacque Jones.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading. Cats rule.