Cub Tracks’ disaster relief

Sports is usually an escape from the humdrum, workaday world, or from disaster. But there’s no more escape from this than there is from reality. Speaking seriously for a minute, as a respiratory patient, I’m in a prime risk group for COVID-19. But I’m asocial by nature, and am a lifetime science fiction reader into the bargain. I’ve read this book before, and I’ve come out of the land beyond pneumonia mostly intact. It can be done, but it isn’t easy, and it’d be better for you if you self-isolate. We don’t want to lose any of you.

This may well be our new normal. Let’s make the best of it. Today we’ll have the middle game of the Sim Cubs vs. the Sim Brewers and we invite you to view. A game thread will be provided at 2:30 p.m. CT, first pitch around 3 p.m. CT. Please bring your own snacks, Cub liquor, and herbal essences.

While we’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.

The Cubs optioned hard-throwing reliever Dillon Maples to Triple-A Iowa, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune. Despite great strikeout totals, the 27-year-old righty has gotten knocked around to the tune of an 8.06 ERA in 22 1/3 frames as a Cub since 2017. Walks have been a major problem for Maples, who has doled out almost 8.5 free passes per nine in the bigs. He wasn’t much better in that department in Triple-A last year, when he walked more than 7.5 hitters per nine. Nevertheless, thanks in large part to a whopping 16.53 K/9 and a tremendous GB percentage of 62.1, Maples pitched to a respectable 3.77 ERA in 43 innings. — MLB Trade Rumors.

• John Hutchinson (The Sun): MLB London Series latest sporting event axed due to coronavirus after London Stadium talks with organisers. “... this has now been shelved.” Mark Gonzales explains. (Note that MLB has not made this official yet.)
• Mark Gonzales and Lamond Pope (Chicago Tribune* {$}): MLB and its players reportedly have agreed to a service time deal if the 2020 season is shortened or canceled. Here’s what that means for the Cubs and White Sox. “All-Stars Kris Bryant and Javier Baez will remain eligible for free agency after the 2021 season, according to the agreement.” Brett Taylor addresses different permutations.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago): Forget about full schedule, fans at Cubs games; plan for short, bittersweet season. “... the most important element of the plan for fans involves the report that MLB and the players agree to wait until they get the all-clear from health and government officials that mass gatherings are safe again before starting the season.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): A conversation with Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies on would-be Opening Day. “Without an Opening Day game to look forward to, The Athletic caught up with the broadcasting duo this week about what they’ve been up to...”
• Tommy Birch (Des Moines Register* {$}): Iowan Colin Rea spends his days practicing in empty parks, waiting for baseball to resume. “... the Chicago Cubs pitcher ventured to an Arizona park Wednesday to meet teammate Kyle Hendricks.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Rizzo discusses foundation’s support of health care workers amid COVID-19.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Super agent Scott Boras is pleased with the MLB service time deal — draft changes aside — and maintains hope for Bryant’s future with the Cubs. “I think everyone did a very competent job of reaching a resolution,” he said.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Fanatics is halting jersey production to make medical gear amid pandemic. “If you can make a difference, you’ve gotta go out and do that.”
• Ryan Davis (Cubs Insider*): Chicago Cubs Simulated Season, Game 1: Cubs Fall to Brewers on Opening Day. We’re not the only ones doing it, but ours is LIVE. Checkmate, other Cubs pages.
• Cubs birthdays: Lon Warneke, Shawn Boskie, Julio Zuleta, Ryan Kalish, Robel Garcia.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading. Rants and raves at medium.