Cub Tracks goes viral

No recap as there was no game Monday.

The flu is going around here, and that’s not helping coronavirus reactions. The Tucson Festival of Books canceled today. Can’t be too careful. Hope you’re ok — I’m flu-ey and I’m washing my hands of this day.

Here’s Cub Tracks News and Notes, the only links column that really matters. 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* {$}): Who’s the 5th starter? What to do with Nico Hoerner? 4 issues facing the Cubs the next 2 weeks as they finalize the roster for opening day. “... a once-docile spring training will start to intensify as the Cubs seek solutions to several issues.” Tim Stebbins has similar feelings. Sahadev Sharma {$} makes projections.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Never bet against Jon Lester. “... unless Lester absolutely explodes this year at age 36, he’s probably hitting free agency for the second time in his career.”
• Rick Morrissey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): David Ross would make a strong statement by naming Kyle Hendricks the Cubs’ Opening Day starter.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider): Tyler Chatwood still in lead for rotation spot over ‘low heartbeat’ Alec Mills. “So, I would still say Chatwood’s in the lead for that role, but Millsy’s having a great spring,” sad David Ross. Brett Taylor offers his thoughts. Gordon Wittenmyer likewise.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Ross-ter rundown: Cubs counting on bounce back season from Craig Kimbrel. “I think it’s impossible to pinpoint how much of his struggles have been because of [his extended 2018-19 offseason], but from my perspective it’s the single biggest factor,” Theo Epstein said of Kimbrel in September.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Inbox: What will the Cubs’ bullpen look like? “There are three pitchers without Minor League options: Alec Mills, Casey Sadler and Duane Underwood Jr.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): ‘It’s hard for me to think what a normal offseason is’: Cubs pitcher Danny Hultzen hopes to prove he’s durable and find consistency. “Hultzen, 30, eventually will need to show he can pitch on consecutive days and remain durable.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): 5 factors weighing on Cubs’ plans for 26th man. “I’ve come in with an open mind,” Ross said.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Enjoy watching Javier Baez while you can, Cubs fans, because nothing is promised in baseball. “Outcome bias messes with a lot of people’s heads,” Joe Maddon once said.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Speed merchant Ian Miller making run at 26th roster spot. “He’s definitely exciting to watch, especially a guy on a team where we don’t have that really in our game too much,” Ross said.
• Cubs birthdays: Dad Lytle, Gene DeMontreville, Bill Heath, Joe Campbell, Darcy Fast, Donnie Murphy.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading. Rants and raves at medium.