Cub Tracks has the jolt you need

Opening Day has been postponed. We will, however, offer Open Sim Day, with the game thread posting at 2:30 p.m. CT. While you’re waiting, 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.

• Ben Frederickson (St Louis Today*): BenFred’s 5: Elway locked in on Lock; MLB should postpone Cards-Cubs in London; Joe Buck needs your help. “The London Series, scheduled for June 13-14, is still on, at least officially. Why?”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): MLB proposal would credit service time to players if season cancelled. “... perhaps because of a recent tide of optimism, the service-time hurdle may be getting quite a bit shorter than initially believed.”
• Vinnie Duber (NBC Sports Chicago*): Baseball reportedly hoping to start in early June as discussions over 2020 season continue. Building on ESPN column. Evan Altman adds on. Brett Taylor has words. Daryl van Schouwen continues. Ron Coomer talks about it [AUDIO].
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): 3 things the Cubs answered at spring training — and 3 looming questions for when baseball resumes. “All was not lost for the Cubs during the first four weeks of spring training before the coronavirus pandemic caused Major League Baseball to suspend the final 1½ weeks.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Hot take: 5 best catchers in Cubs history. Willson Contreras is on the list. Barry Foote isn’t.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs 2020 roster outlook: Why Jason Kipnis has struggled in recent years. “Kipnis likely will be given a chance to start at second versus righties, even if Hoerner makes the roster”
• Bernie Pleskoff (Forbes*): A trade for Cubs’ Kris Bryant might give the Phillies the jolt they need. Hoo boy. This is still happening.
• Anna Katherine Clemmons (ESPN*): Cubs’ Rachel Folden is swinging away at stigma that ‘women can’t coach baseball’. “My coach loves to tell people how the only thing she had to punish me for in four years was looking up statistics during class,” Folden says, laughing. “I’ve always been a data nerd.”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Kelly Crull says goodbye to Chicago and awaits next chapter in Atlanta. “Whenever sports return, Crull’s duties will be split between sideline reporting and studio hosting, which she views as an important next step in her career.”
• 670 The Score*: The time Harry Caray’s fame saved his life. “... Caray’s affinity for late nights out has been well-documented over the years.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago): What it’s like switching spots on the Cubs beat during coronavirus pandemic. “What will I cover? What will I write?”
• Cubs birthdays: Jack McCarthy, Jimmy Lavender, Brad Hogg, Joe Klugmann, Jose Vizcaino, Jason Maxwell, Jason Dubois, Rob Zastryzny. Also notable: Hernan Perez.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading. Rants and raves at medium.