Cub Tracks’ machine stops

Well, one out of three is bad. Better than NONE out of three, but still not optimal. Unfortunately for Anthony Rizzo, the strike zone still looks tuned to a dead channel. Bring on the robot umps. I submit for your approval the following:

(I have taken a great deal of liberties with the Three Laws of Robotics in order to bring you the Three Laws of Robot Umps)

1. An umpire may not misidentify a thrown ball or, through misidentification, allow a strike to be called a ball, or conversely, a ball to be called a strike.

2. A robot must correctly interpret the strike zone except where such interpretation would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must make the right call as long as such a determination does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Remember, Craig Kimbrel, the lesson of Pedro Strop — firemen are supposed to put out fires.

Here’s today’s Cubs News and Notes, where we’ll come through in waves and waves, and somebody’s hot take is bound to rub you the wrong way. 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*): Needy Cubs to cast ‘a wide net’ as trade deadline looms. “The Cubs have so many potential moving parts that it’s hard to know what the priority is.” Sahadev Sharma {$} discusses this idea. Phil Rogers says a few syllables.
• Eno Sarris (The Athletic {$}): Do ‘purpose pitches’ actually work? “... if you can put it just where you want it, the rest of the plate appearance will probably go your way.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider) Anthony Rizzo still doesn’t know why he was ejected. “... the umpires union must have been well below ejection quota for the week ...”
• ESPN: Rizzo talks about his ejection [VIDEO].
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Addison Russell is gone. Whether he’ll return to the Cubs is anyone’s guess. “For now, Russell fits in Iowa. We’ll soon find out if a lot of teams want him.” Matt Snyder chimes in. Brendan Miller interprets. Jeff Arnold says a thing or two.
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Why the Cubs haven’t given up on Daniel Descalso yet. “The Cubs could clearly use another productive hitter in the lineup on a regular basis...”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): ‘He turns safe into outs’: The art of tagging and how the Cubs let Javier Báez be himself. “... he gives us a chance,” said Brian Butterfield.
• Chris Haft (MLB.com*): Kris Bryant homers, exits early with sore right knee. “No further details about the extent of Bryant’s injury were available, though he walked under his own power as he left the Oracle Park visitor’s clubhouse.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Could tragic foul ball in Houston be cause of Albert Almora Jr.’s offensive struggles? “Almora’s splits from before and after the events of May 29 are pretty stark... “
• Cubs birthdays: John Tener, Mick Kelleher, Jose Bautista. Also notable: Whitey Lockman.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.