Cub Tracks pours it on

I pour it on my pancakes, Bowie Kuhn. Heh. Go Cubs! I like me a pitcher’s duel but few things beat balls flying out of the yard with regularity. The seemingly rejuvenated Cubs look to fire another broadside and chase the woeful Pirates out of town this afternoon at beautiful Wrigley Field.

The Reds and then the Cardinals come in to finish up the homestand, and then the Cubs head out on the road to close the season against the Bucs and Redbirds. The regular season ends in a fortnight, and the Cubs hope to play beyond that.

Another win would be a step in the right direction, especially given that daunting finishing sequence. Standings and schedule here.

Recap here. 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.

• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Joe Maddon isn’t the problem, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be part of the Cubs’ solution. “... the reality is that all managers have to collaborate with the front office and color inside the lines.”
• Barry Rozner (Daily Herald * {$}): Relaxed Chicago Cubs suddenly back in playoff mode. “I think we’re all trying too hard sometimes,” said Jon Lester.
• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago): How Cubs are viewing the Cardinals-Brewers series this weekend. “... we don’t give a sh*t about what anybody else is doing,” Jason Heyward said. There’s [VIDEO], too.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Could Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel miss the rest of season? ‘Anything is possible’. “Maddon will mix and match in the late innings until Kimbrel comes back — if he does.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs crush single-season franchise HR record. “Our goal is to win the division,” Maddon said.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs leadoff spot problems a case study in closer-like uniqueness of mental side of role. “... the lengthy runs of Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward in the spot suggest the role takes a different mentality and approach.”
• David Just (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs rookie Nico Hoerner continues hot start. “Nico’s performance can’t be overlooked,” Maddon said. Paul Sullivan has more Nico. Tony Andracki addresses revolving door at second/short.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Hoerner on Wrigley: ‘It lived up to the hype’. “It felt like I had always hoped it would,” he said.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): David Ross has ‘better chance’ than Joe Girardi of becoming next Cubs manager. “Ken Rosenthal wrote that failure to advance in the postseason could well spur the front office to seek a new voice.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Wrigley Field organist Gary Pressy is retiring after 33 years: ‘The cup is full’. “The Cubs will honor Pressy later in the homestand to commemorate his service to the organization.” Jordan Bastian has more.
• Cubs birthdays: Speed Martin, Vance Page, Jim Davis, Duke Simpson, Bob Lennon, Freddie Burdette, Charley Smith, Jason Hardtke. Also notable: Gaylord Perry (HoF).

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.