Cub Tracks and the new Yu

Cubs score plenty. David Bote has a real nice game. Anthony Rizzo, too. And Kyle Schwarber... and let’s not forget our friend Yu Darvish. After being plunked following hitting two long balls, Bote didn’t look to be trying to start anything, if those heart-taps mean what they are supposed to. But yeah, Bill Welke, good job keeping things cool. Taylor Davis was getting ready to turn on THE STARE. I could feel it. Torey Lovullo denies throwing at Bote on purpose.

In other news, Daniel Descalso clearly has greater range than Ben Zobrist at this point in their careers. Just ask Wilmer Flores. All this and Caleb Joseph, too!

Al will have details in the recap. 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).

• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Beyond the pale: Baseball’s so-called black issues caused by its white problem. “... being in this game you understand things,” Adam Jones said. “There’s 7 percent of us.”
• Matt Laymon (AZ Sports): Benches clear between D-backs, Cubs after hit batter. “The Bote hit-by-pitch was one of many errant pitches thrown by each team in the ballgame but only the second instance in the game that a batter was hit.”
• Jake Rill (MLB.com*): Maddon adapts to connect with younger players. “The guys wanted more of that, so I’m giving them more than that,” Maddon said. “We’ve always talked, but I’m talking texts, I’m talking emails, I’m talking constantly. I’m like a pain in the butt right now.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks knows ‘I got to start getting better’ after loss to Diamondbacks. “I couldn’t get a shutdown inning,” Hendricks said. “I didn’t give us a chance to win.” Jake Rill has more.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): The full Dillon Maples experience was on display. “It’s so very easy to see why we remain enchanted by the prospects of Maples commanding his pitches well enough to stay in the big leagues.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Brandon Morrow to have lubricating injection in elbow, bullish on return this season. “... that’s far from a given, so don’t go holding your breath on that just yet.”
• Jason Mastrodonato (Boston Herald* {$}): Addison Russell’s second chance with Chicago Cubs prompts questions about MLB’s domestic violence policy. “The 40-game penalty for his violent past is in stark contrast to the baseline suspension for players who violate the game’s performance-enhancing drug policy.”
• Matthew Leach (MLB.com*): NL reset: Baez, Greinke, West race. “By the numbers and by the eye test, Javier Baez has been brilliant. He entered Friday with +5 defensive runs saved, tied for the best mark of any shortstop in baseball.”
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): So much for regression: Javy Baez keeps getting better. “... it’s safe to say Baez’s superstar status is here to stay.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Kris Bryant on Vladimir Guerrero Jr., living through the hype and answering the critics. “OK, so he did better than me,” Bryant said.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Exit velocity? Pfft. Struggling Cubs slugger Bryant would rather hear from manager Joe Maddon. “I made a point to tell him I want him to do that,” Bryant said. Gordon Wittenmyer opines as well.
• Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider): Pitching strategy against Bryant with two strikes has changed. “I think these sorts of analyses can be dangerous if over-interpreted...”
• Jake Rill (MLB.com*): David Bote feels the power (twice!) vs. D-backs. “It was Bote’s first career multi-homer game.”
• Cubs birthdays: Walt Woods, Luis Quinones, John Gaub. Also notable: Cuddles Marshall (!), Barry Larkin (HoF)

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.