Cub Tracks is a hot ticket

Forgive me, Padres, for I have simmed.

The simPadres have been anything but simpatico so far and starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi even went so far as to flirt with a no-no for 6+ innings before Willson Contreras had enough of that winking and nodding and whacked a si-si into the left-field stands. Here are some of the highlights and lowlights from that game:

Forgive my French, but that was fugly. Today the still-in-first-place Cubs try to salvage the dessert course as the entree has already been claimed. Then the Phightin Phillies come into simtown for a weekend series in the Friendly Confines, and brother, I’d love to see them leave with a couple of losses under their belts.

But first, Garrett Richards and the San Diego Padres will oppose Tyler Chatwood and the hometown Chicago Cubs. Please feel fRee to join us at simWrigley Field for the series finale.

Al will have more information about the upcoming sim game in the game post at 2:30 p.m. 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.

• Jessica Golden (CNBC*): Legendary baseball agent Scott Boras has a plan to bring the game back. “The plan involves creating control groups, bringing players back in waves and using isolation practices.” Brett Taylor offers his take.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Florida Man’s sports advisory committee is missing 2 important voices — athletes and health experts. “Why does this matter if you’re a Cubs fan?”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): The most important Cubs additions of the last 20 years were two guys from Boston. “... the hiring of Theo Epstein and the signing of Jon Lester.”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): Cubs RHP Prospect Max Bain explains how he reinvented himself in just four months. Pitch Lab is waiting for him.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs’ Top 5 shortstops: Bastian’s take. Javier Baez will ascend the list.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Kris Bryant is offering a weekend in Las Vegas to raise money for meals for frontline workers and coronavirus victims. “The package includes round-trip airfare for two, two nights of hotel lodging and a round of golf with Bryant at The Summit Club, followed by lunch with him.”
• Chris Kamka (NBC Sports Chicago*): From Mays to McGwire, these 19 players are all-time Cubs killers. Slideshow.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Jenkins recalls ‘71 Opening Day duel vs. Gibson. “Cubs-Cardinals clash featured HOFers battling into extras.”
• Cubs birthdays: Joe Kelly, Ray Starr, Dolph Camilli, Carlos Silva. Also notable: Jim Bottomley HOF, Warren Spahn HOF.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading!