Cub Tracks zeroes in

The Cubs never really seemed to be in this game. That happens sometimes. They’ll try to tie up the series this afternoon. 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).

• Nancy Armour (USA Today*): Opinion: Height of privilege? Criticizing the Chicago Cubs’ decisions on fan, Addison Russell. “You’re making way too much out of this.”

• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Are the Cubs part of the problem or the solution? Analyzing Theo Epstein’s nuanced approach to the Addison Russell case. “It’s too soon to tell...”
• Phil Barnes (NBC Sports Chicago*): Jose Quintana stays strong despite quiet Cubs bats. “It was a battle. I executed my pitches, I just made one mistake with [Ryan] Braun,” said Quintana.
• Steve Greenberg (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs’ offense an eerily familiar no-show in 7-0 loss to streaking Brewers. ‘‘We’ve got to figure them out,” said Maddon.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Tale of two pitchers: Mike Montgomery returns to form as Yu Darvish, Cubs search for answers. “He did better than me, that’s it,” Darvish said when asked about Montgomery’s performance. “He did a good job.”
• Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider): Chicago Cubs power surge: Several Cubs players crushing home runs on career-high paces. Awkward... anyway “... maybe everything is just finally clicking.”
• Robert Kuenstler (Forbes): Anthony Rizzo: Leader and backbone of the Chicago Cubs. “Rizz goes out there every day and gives you everything he can,” said Maddon.
• Tommy Birch (Des Moines Register* {$}): Donnie Dewees making the most of second stint with the Cubs. “Dewees has seen first-hand just how crazy the baseball business is.”
• Grey Papke (Larry Brown Sports): Addison Russell backs off critical comments of booing Cub fans. “My actions are what they are, and I have to be responsible for them.” Paul Sullivan reports similar sentiments.
• Katherine Acquavella (CBS Sports*): Kris Bryant’s recent hot streak got started when the Cubs star made a bat change. “I’ve been having good at-bats, so I don’t know if it’s the bat or what, but it’s always nice to use a new one and hit a homer,” Bryant said. Sahadev Sharma {$} takes his wraps.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Epstein: No plans to discuss an extension with Maddon during the season. “... we’ll see how this season plays out...”
• Phil Barnes (NBC Sports Chicago*): For former Cubs coach Andy Haines, Wrigley Field never gets old. “... Haines still gets jitters walking into Wrigley...” Robert Murray {$} also has words about Haines.
• Cubs birthdays: Jim Connor, Dewey Adkins, Gene Hermanski, Mel Wright, Milt Pappas, Jerry Martin. Also notable: Charlie Gehringer (HoF).

Food for thought: