Cub Tracks floats the Bote

David Bote! Bote! Bote! Bote! Bote! Bote! Bote! Musta been eating his spinach. That was an eye-popping display of batsmanship.

That game got interesting after the starters left. Al will have details in his recap. We’ll get the Craig Kimbrel to Wrigley Field countdown started.

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). {$} means paywall. {$] means limited views.

• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Better late than never, Kimbrel is the closer the Cubs needed. “Their 52 percent save percentage, entering Wednesday, is second-worst in baseball.” Patrick Mooney {$} adds on. Paul Sullivan opines. Jordan Bastian zooms in. Ryan Thomure (Cubs Insider) jumps on.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Bote stages RBI fest on dramatic night for ‘pen. “Bote joined Ed Bailey (July 22, 1965) and Heinie Zimmerman (June 11, 1911) as the only players in Cubs history to have four hits and at least seven RBIs in only four plate appearances in a game.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Absent Cubs infielder Ben Zobrist is staying in touch with team President Theo Epstein. “I’ve been in touch with him,” Epstein said Wednesday night. “He’s been communicative with us. We have an understanding with him. Our thoughts are with him, his family and his situation. That’s all for now.” Steve Greenberg elaborates.
• Larry Brown (Larry Brown Sports): UCLA star Chase Strumpf homers minute after being drafted by Cubs. “The second baseman was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the second round with the No. 64 overall pick at 8:51 pm PT.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Why Carlos González is the ‘grown-up’ hitter the Cubs needed in their lineup and clubhouse. “He’s already been a huge impact, a huge lift for us,” Kyle Hendricks said. Tony Andracki has similar sentiments.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs’ Draft focus reflects shift in philosophy. “It’s really been a loosening of our standards in terms of arm action, delivery and risk aversion,” Theo Epstein said.
• Taylor Hartz (Chicago Tribune* {$}): 93-year-old Cubs fan, a 90-year-old Sox fan taking rivalry to Crosstown Classic. “... 93-year-old Nick Scarpelli and 90-year-old Lou Dodaro have been inseparable – except when it comes to baseball.”
• Cubs birthdays: Jim St. Vrain, Bill Lange, Ray Pierce, Bob Talbot, Brooks Kieschnick, . Also notable: Bill Dickey (HoF)

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading. You know what day it is.