Cub Tracks has grave doubts

I bid you welcome. The blood is the life, you know. This season has driven me bats, but I still Bleed Cubbie Blue. The horror film aficionado in me wants blood. The nihilist on me wants it all blown up. I hate to argue, especially with myself, and those are the most Universal voices, so they’ve held sway. Last week we let entropy take over. Today we embrace the chaos, and this week we sink our teeth into that attempted B-Team drubbing of, and eventual victory over, the Cardinals and would prefer to have the meatloaf served cold, with a coke.

I never drink wine, Sven. Mina would like extras on the red gravy, please. The fly in the soup is for Renfield. The fly in the ointment is for the little creatures of the night. How sweet they sing.

Today’s the last game of a very trying season. I dunno about you, but I’m done watching baseball for the year. I don’t have any fan stake in any team in the playoffs and not so much interest to bank on, either. Yadi Yadi yadda yadda.

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.

• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Joe Maddon and Theo Epstein will meet tonight to discuss the Cubs manager’s fate. “Epstein confirmed the meeting but declined further comment.” Jordan Bastian chimes in. Tony Andracki adds wisdom. Evan Altman offers commentary. Paul Sullivan says his goodbyes. Bruce Miles has a few words.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): The end is coming for the Cubs and Joe Maddon: ‘He should be revered as a legend in this town’. “Maddon expects a final answer before the team leaves St. Louis on Sunday.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs managers’ most memorable endings, from Leo Durocher to Rick Renteria. “There are 29 managerial jobs in baseball, and then there’s the Cubs job.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Core no more: Cubs winter of disassembling looms in effort to build new championship core. “I’m sure there’ll be many players and many personnel from this current team involved in that next Cubs championship team,” Epstein said, “but nonetheless it’ll be something that’s starting afresh, and I think that’s appropriate.” Paul Sullivan has more on this.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): How Yu Darvish found himself during a lost season for the Cubs. “I’m so looking forward to next spring training,” Darvish said.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribunez* [$}): Back to school: Cubs rookie Nico Hoerner will return to Stanford next week to earn his bachelor’s degree. “He needs 15 units to earn his bachelor’s degree in American Studies.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): The sting of failing to reach the playoffs for the 1st time gnaws at Cubs slugger Kris Bryant: ‘This is a weird feeling — playing games that mean nothing’. “There’s a lot of stuff in the air,” Bryant said.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Nicholas Castellanos on his stint with the Cubs: ’I loved being in the pennant race’. “To be back in (a race) this year, I enjoyed the (bleep) out of it,” he said. Steve Greenberg has additional commentary.
• Cubs birthdays: Harry Steinfeldt, Bob Anderson, Craig Lefferts.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.