Cub Tracks understands

I’ll have you know that MLB The Show 2020 arrived safe and sound on my doorstep Saturday afternoon, and has already been tested. It meant a special trip to the apothecary and necessitated the opening of one of my last two Old Styles but that’s a small price to pay for such an expensive toy. We’ll be ready to go for the next big broadcast.

In the meantime, 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.

“I know there’s a lot of people, a lot of things that needs to be done, a lot of people that still need help. We just wanted to help take care of kids and make sure they have meals. I know a lot of places were keeping schools open just for the fact that [they were] trying to make sure the kids get food during the day.

“That was their one or two opportunities to eat, because everyone has it differently. Any way we can help the food, it was something to try and ease people’s minds, and take one thing off the plate of other groups of people, and hopefully, give some help to other areas.” — Jason Heyward.

• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): MLB and players make a couple procedural decisions about released players. “... arbitration-level players can still be released before the season starts, but they will get 45 days termination pay no matter when you release them.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): How to stay sane while sheltering in place during the sports shutdown? Take Joe Maddon’s advice and ‘utilize your imagination.’ “... you still can carry on a pretty normal life within those parameters,” he added.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): MLB insider thinks COVID-19 hiatus hurts Jon Lester’s Hall of Fame chances. “According to Joel Sherman, Lester’s résumé needs a bit more padding, and because he’s on the “back-nine” of his career, time is running out.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): David Bote revealing Bobby Flay is his celebrity crush is the content fans need. See above video.
• Bob Goldsborough (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs outfielder Jason Kipnis buys $2.8 million mansion in Old Town. “The mansion is the third home that Kipnis has bought in the Chicago area.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs 2020 roster outlook: Steven Souza Jr. could provide needed boost vs. lefties. “Souza performing somewhere between his career averages and 2017 totals against lefties would be an upgrade for the Cubs lineup.”
• Ryan Thomure (Cubs Insider*): 4 baseball books to help get you to Opening Day. Not bad. I know more. I bet you do, too. Ball Four. The Bronx Zoo. The Fall of the Roman Umpire. Bang the Drum Slowly ... The Arm ...
• Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): Jeff Garlin on ‘Curb,’ the Cubs and why quarterbacks are like comedians. “... he understands the value of patience.”
• Cubs birthdays: Bill McClellan, Paul Schramka, Al Schroll, Gene Oliver, Dick Ellsworth, Glenallen Hill, Joe Smith, Dexter Fowler.

Food for Thought:

Thanks for reading. Rants and raves at medium.