Cub Tracks gets out on the wrong foot

So here we are, the train having run off the rails in the last home set, looking at the playoffs from the outside. What happens now? Hot takes and cold comfort.

No game Monday. That’s probably a positive. Hoo boy. Welcome to the fall. And you thought the winter was discontented...

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.

• Tony Andracki (NBC Sports Chicago*): Great expectations and the 2019 Cubs. “... the Cubs are not going to the playoffs in 2019.”
• Jon Tayler (Sports Illustrated*): Dynasty Deferred: More than just the Cubs’ playoff hopes died this weekend. “This late September flameout continues what’s been a long and slippery slide for the Cubs since winning it all.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): From bullpen blues to leadoff woes: 4 areas the Cubs need to correct before next season. “Reality says it’s time to start the annual exit interviews.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Any ‘reckoning’ should start at top for a Cubs team that performed as well as its roster was built. “The Cubs promised a player-development machine eight years ago. It has been anything but.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Jon Heyman thinks Jed Hoyer is one of “Two Most Likely” candidates for top Boston job. Heyman was on The Mully & Haugh Show (link in article).
• Tyler Smith (Cubs Insider): Joe Maddon was perfect for Cubs at one time, now is perfect time to move on. “...the odds of a Maddon extension seem about as slim as the Cubs’ playoff hopes at this point.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): David Ross was the talk of Wrigley Field during the final homestand. Could he be back next season — as the Cubs manager? “...given his tight relationship with Epstein, the man known as “Grandpa” would seem the likeliest choice if the Cubs do part ways with Maddon.” Brett Taylor addresses this issue.
• Bruce Miles (Daily Herald* {$}): Road night games have been Cubs’ kryptonite this season. “Math is not the friend of the Chicago Cubs.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): ‘There’s no words right now’: Yu Darvish’s frustrations boil over amid the Cubs’ epic collapse. “If you just play back the tape, it’s almost unbelievable that it turned out this way,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. Tim Stebbins adds on.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): It’s the end of an era at Wrigley Field as Ben Zobrist winds down his Cubs career. “...the image of Zobrist reaching second base, fist pumping in the air as he leapt onto the bag that late November evening in Cleveland, will never be forgotten.” Tom Musick takes a swing.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Nico Hoerner leaving great impression on Cubs: ‘We believe in him’. “...he’s done a great job for the team and for our pitchers,” said Javier Baez.
• RJ Anderson (CBS Sports*): Agent Scott Boras calls out MLB over player safety after Cubs’ Kris Bryant injures ankle on wet base. “What have they done since Harper? The answer is: nothing,” said Boras. Gordon Wittenmyer has more.
• Cubs birthdays: John Kane, Mike Gonzalez, Dick Nen, Rafael Palmeiro, Mario Encarnacion, Jake Buchanan.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.