Cub Tracks keeps the line moving

One hit through 6⅔ and out. No decision. Ugh, Kyle Hendricks. But the team pulled off a win and that’s what counts. Home runs! Accounted for almost all of the runs for the Cubs, which is par for the course. The ninth was a squeaker (especially that last ball), but Phelps and the team accomplished the mission before they self-destructed.

I’m kind of interested to see how Victor Caratini performs as a starter. Looked good Monday evening.

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.

• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): After a swing-and-miss offseason, has the Cubs’ front office made all the right pennant-race moves? “The Cubs are a more talented team in August than July.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Yu Darvish is in command of his command and “Pitching as well as anybody in the league.” Since May 9, “... Darvish has made 15 starts (89.1 IP), but has walked only 18 batters total.” Sahadev Sharma adds on {$}.
• Brian Sandalow (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Money Men: The Cubs’ investments in Jason Heyward and Darvish finally starting to pay off. “... it would be a big help to the Cubs if Darvish and Heyward continue living up to their contracts as they have recently.”
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): ‘Just another day at the office’ as injury bug smacks into Cubs. “Our depth is tested, no doubt,” GM Jed Hoyer said.
• Jeff Arnold (MLB.com*) Craig Kimbrel to injured list with knee inflammation. A few more details than were available at the time the front-page article appeared, plus Ben Zobrist and Brandon Morrow.
• Matt Snyder (CBS Sports*): Cubs place closer Kimbrel on IL with knee injury; a look at who could step up in the bullpen. “... this isn’t as much of a bad news move as it sounds on the surface.”
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): With catching depth suddenly a concern, could Cubs turn to Kyle Schwarber behind the plate? “You better believe Schwarber has been in Joe Maddon’s ear...”
• Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider): Victor Caratini’s framing better than 75% of MLB catchers. “Caratini is more than capable of handling starting duties behind the dish.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs won’t announce Ben Zobrist’s next step for a few days: ‘It’s going to be very fluid’. “We’re going to talk through it,” said Jed Hoyer.
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): Five years of Javier Baez: Skills, smiles and swag. “Baez has come a long way since he was a brash kid who “swung at everything.””
• Tyler Smith (Cubs Insider): Heyward providing spark Cubs have lacked since 2016. “He’s leading us,” Joe Maddon said of Heyward this past weekend. “He’s absolutely leading the offense right now.”
• Phil Rosenthal (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Extended safety netting at Wrigley Field seems inevitable. So why are the Cubs slow to commit to it? “We are currently exploring and researching expansion of protective netting,” team spokesman Julian Green said by email.
• Cubs birthdays: Sam Mertes, Jack Wallace, Bobby Sturgeon, Dave Gerard, Wayne Schurr, Joe Schaffernoth, Ray Culp, Jim Dunegan, Ron Davis, Luis Vizcaino, Justin Germano.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.