Cub Tracks has a lot of pluck

No game Monday. So we stand in anticipation of tonight’s tilt against the hated (by me!) New York Metropolitans, in not-so-beautiful Citi Field in Flushing, New York, which is well-named. My friend (yes, I have friends) Julian is a Mets fan, and I don’t even want to get him started, so the Cubs better win and be flushed with victory. RIP, MAD.

Speaking of flushing, how about those Players’ Weekend uniforms? I still like the black Cubs cap that I picked up, which looks like part of a (hopefully) mythical road version. People remark on it when I wear it out, and it fits my basic black-and-neon-colors wardrobe. I saw one with a rainbow logo too, which is pretty awesome. I’d be behind a whole uniform with rainbow lettering and numbers, as long as you could keep from making it look like a Geocities page from 1998, or the Houston Astros’ old unis. I weep when I think of all of the poor polyesters that were killed to make that gear. These are cool too.

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. Italics are often used here as sarcasm font.

• Bruce Levine (670 The Score): Source: Cubs will extend protective netting In 2020. “The netting could extend to about where the old bullpens once existed.” Michael Cerami also reports.
• Mike Puma (New York Post*): Mets understand their fragile playoff dream amid Cubs series. “Treading water is certainly useful, but at some point it’s either sink or swim.”
• David Haugh (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs look closer to being dismantled in the offseason than they are to playing in the World Series. “... every day the 2016 Cubs creep a little closer to joining the 1985 Bears on a list of one-hit wonders.”
• ESPN: Jeff Passan says Yu Darvish may be the X-Factor [VIDEO].
• Steve Greenberg (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): A return to Peak Pedro? Cubs’ Strop — aware of fan criticism — vows performance will improve. “I have confidence that I’m about to start pitching real good,” Strop, 34, said.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Cubs could pursue Gerrit Cole this winter, not among (way too) early favorites. According to Buster Olney {$}. “... the Cubs have a lot of money falling off the books.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Nats expose flaws of Cubs’ homer-heavy offense. “It’s something we have to continue to work at, to move the ball, score runs with outs,” Maddon said. Tony Andracki has related material. Bruce Miles loads ‘em up. Sahadev Sharma drives the point home {$}: ‘They just don’t chase’.
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs not concerned after another back issue for Anthony Rizzo. “Rizzo and the Cubs have the benefit of an off-day Monday to help aid his recovery.”
• Sean Holland (Cubs Insider): What role will Ben Zobrist play when he returns? “... he could help with the Cubs’ glaring weakness against left-handed pitchers...”
• Jared Wyllys (Forbes*): It’s time for the Cubs to sign Nick Castellanos long-term. “... if they hope to extend their contention window, the Cubs need to work out a contract with him now rather than let Castellanos test free agency.”
• Cubs birthdays: Dave Wright, Eddie Mulligan, Phil Collins, Marv Gudat, Emil Verban, Peanuts Lowrey, Jim King, Ernie Broglio, John Hairston, Brian McRae, Andy Pratt, Mike Olt, Seth Frankoff, Josh Vitters. Also notable : Jim Thome (HoF).
• 2010 - Chris Valaika homers off Cubs starter Tom Gorzelanny for his first major league long ball.
• 2014 - Cuban OF Jorge Soler goes deep in his first career at-bat.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.