Cub Tracks blows it out

Well, the simCubs flew the coop having split the series with the woeful simOrioles, due largely to Jose Quintana’s ability to locate the gopher ball to banjo hitters. Al nearly had to talk me down from executing Q’s deliverance to another squad but I admit that I’d put him in the pen if it were up to me.

Sometimes these players are entirely too well-programmed. Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras are working through power droughts but still producing base hits and Albert Almora Jr couldn’t hit a fastball with a shovel. Maybe he can hit the candles.

Despite that, the simCubs are in first place, 13-5, and are gearing up for four games with the 13-4, first-place Nationals at their home in the District.

Al will have more information about that game in the game post at 2:30 pm CT, for our 3 p.m. start. I’ll drop the specific URL to the contest in the game thread, but you can lurk at the BCB Media Center and catch it there as well. All past games and highlights reels are available there too, if you want the full #simCubs experience.

And now, 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.

• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Fergie won’t forget his road to the Majors. “Jenkins was born and raised in Canada, where his youth was void of the kind of hatred he witnessed as a Minor Leaguer ...”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Former Cubs’ great Rick Sutcliffe pledges salary again to make sure MLB plays ball. “It worked the first time.”
• Madeleine Kenney (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Greg Maddux celebrates 54th birthday by raising funds for COVID-19 relief. “Maddux created a GoFundMe and promised to match all donations up to $54,000.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs great Ryne Sandberg: Jim Frey’s influence ‘took me to the Hall of Fame’. “His conversations and having me change my mindset really took me to the Hall of Fame,” Sandberg said.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Wrigleyville, baseball’s biggest party, is frozen and bracing for a long rebuild. “Rain or shine, an eerie quiet now hangs over Wrigleyville.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Wrigley Field to be used for relief efforts. “On Tuesday, the Cubs announced that they will partner with Hickory Street Capital to mobilize the Wrigley Field concourse ...”
• Ronald Blum (AP via Chicago Tribune* {$}): Governor says Arizona is willing to host the MLB season ‘at the right time’. “Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey says his state is willing to host all 30 major league teams at the time public health concerns allow ...”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Cubs could face yet another underwhelming winter if 2020 season cancelled. “... a canceled season would result in simply kicking CBT penalty status down the road by one year.”
• Cubs birthdays: Tommy Sewell, Babe Phelps, Ed Winceniak, Frank Fernandez, Antonio Alfonseca, Albert Almora. Also notable: Paul Waner HOF.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading! Happy 4/20.