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Cub Tracks does the right team thing

Zobrist selfless, Javy goes oppo, and other bullets

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The winnah!
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

No baseball last night, so we have rehash for breakfast, plus this week’s #narratives. Tonight the Cubs begin a series against Seattle. Hopefully Edwin Encarnacion’s bat is covered in rime. It’ll be cool to see Daniel Vogelbach, but his bat needs frosting, too. Maybe the seabirds can take care of that. Right, John Cleese?

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).

Struggling Ben Zobrist offered to sit out Sunday’s series finale against the Diamondbacks in favor of David Bote. Maddon honored Zobrist’s wishes, and Bote played a minor role Sunday, going 1-for-7 with a double. — Mark Gonzales.

In history (from BBRef):

  • 1970 - Billy Williams becomes the first National Leaguer to play in 1000 consecutive games. The Cubs’ outfielder streak, which started in 1962, will end in two seasons after the future Hall of Famer plays in 1,117 straight contests, setting a National League record.
  • 2000 - Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks defeats the Chicago Cubs, 6 - 0, as he becomes only the third pitcher in major league history to win six games in April.
  • 2005 - Major league players are asked by Commissioner Bud Selig to agree to a 50-game suspension for the first offense, a 100-game suspension for the second offense and a lifelong ban after the third offense for the use of steroids. In addition to the harsher “three-strike” rule, the commissioner is also seeking a ban on amphetamines.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading. My cat Chicken Butt helped with editing this article. Cats rule. Happy Walpurgisnacht!