Cub Tracks keeps it brief

Recap of game one here. The Cubs played two Monday, beating the Angels and old skipper Joe Maddon 9-4, but losing the nightcap to the Athletics 5-2; Al will have the night game recap at 8 a.m. CT.

Here’s today’s episode of 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.

• Jesse Rogers (ESPN*): ‘Only in spring training’ stories: Driving to the wrong park, practicing in khakis and more. “You don’t have to act as serious,” Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant summed up.
• Keith Law (The Athletic {$}): Keith Law’s farm system rankings for all 30 MLB teams. “... all 30 major-league teams’ farm systems here, with a brief explanation of why they’re in this order”, with more Keith Law. #28.
• Jesse Sanchez (MLB.com*): Maddon, Cubs recall fond times in spring reunion. “I do know this is a game first. It’s not life or death,” Maddon said. ESPN adds on. Sahadev Sharma {$} offers his thoughts.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Pitch Lab Index: What every pitcher in Cubs camp is working on in the lab. “... the Cubs will need some surprises to build a stronger unit.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): 5 takeaways from Cubs spring training, including Joe Maddon’s view of Bryant as a leadoff man. “We always talked about it,” Maddon said.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Kyle Hendricks pitches 3 perfect innings as the Cubs beat the Angels 9-4 in Joe Maddon’s return to Mesa. “... Hendricks was all business ...”
• RJ Anderson (CBS Sports*): Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo pokes fun at Astros’ cheating scheme during spring training at-bat. Rizzo: “I’m doing some math in my head about what he’s going to throw...” Also a Selena Gomez impression.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Don’t look now, But Javier Báez has become a walk machine. “If it’s not a strike I’m trying not to swing at it,” he told Jesse Rogers of ESPN.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Bryant uses an alias on road trips and it pays homage to popular film. “I’m changing my alias this year, but that was my alias on the road the last five years,” Bryant said. “Hamilton Porter.”
• Matt Monogan (MLB.com*): Bryant’s mic’d up AB: ‘Oh my god, oh my god’. “Players hate running as much as any of us.” Brett Taylor liked all the miking. The New York Post is still trying to trade Bryant. No word from Joe Giglio, yet.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Cubs will try to keep Jason Heyward out of center field this year and that is a very good move. “We’ve got a good little competition in center with two guys playing well (Ian Happ and Albert Almora Jr.),” said Ross.
• Russell Dorsey (MLB.com*): Stephen Souza Jr feels ‘100 percent’ after devastating injury. “He came in in great shape and is definitely moving well,” Cubs manager David Ross said. Evan Altman has thoughts on this.
• Cubs birthdays: Art Bues, Joe Jaeger. Also notable: John Ward (HoF), Willie Keeler (HoF).

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading. Rants and raves at medium.