Cub Tracks’ Pitt stop

The simCubs sail on, having taken the first of three games with the woeful Pittsburgh Pirates 13-5. Ian Happ, Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber, and Anthony Rizzo clubbed cannonballs and the score wasn’t as close as it looks, with erstwhile closer Craig Kimbrel getting keelhauled in the ninth, allowing four runs before Brad Wieck got everything ship-shape.

Neither Tyler Chatwood nor Mitch Keller made it to the fifth inning, Chatwood having fired entirely too many rummy shots for anyone’s liking and Keller having been overcome with the gopher balls that were apparently served by the Pirates’ galley as canapes.

Jason Heyward and Jason Kipnis also contributed key hits to the Cubs’ broadside. Al will have more information about today’s second game in the series, 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 as well. I also make plenty of data available on my Twitter account, immediately pre- and post-game.

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.

All eight of Chicago’s major-league professional sports teams signed on to a new public information campaign with a motto that would’ve been unthinkable in any year but 2020: “We Are Not Playing.”

• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): After the peak, widespread rapid testing will aid the return of sports. “... in a post-COVID-19 peak world, testing is gonna be the thing.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): From long toss in the backyard to BP in the driveway: How Cubs players are staying ready for an uncertain opening day. “When we all came back, you could tell who did and didn’t do their homework,” Mike Krukow said.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel’s unique pitching pose stemmed from an injury. “... he suffered from biceps tendinitis ...”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Cubs Insider’s Q&A with speedy OF Ian Miller, who opened eyes this spring with full-throttle style. ‘I just play as hard as humanly possible’
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs reportedly are targeting a shortstop in the international signing period. “According to Baseball America’s story on the 2020 international signing period, the Cubs are projected to sign one of the top shortstops in Cristian Hernandez.”
• Jim Callis (MLB.com*): Here are the 2020 Draft pools and bonus values. The Cubs stand to lose a lot by a shortened draft. Brett Taylor argues that case.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Fergie Jenkins adjusts to new normal during what was his signature week of season. “Only nine pitchers in history have made more Opening Day starts than his 11 — including a franchise-record seven for the Cubs.”
• Dr. Meredith Wills (The Athletic {$}): Uncovering the secrets of the 2019 postseason baseball. “... these balls were not purchased but obtained from personnel with on-field access.”
• Cubs birthdays: John Ganzel, Fred Lear, Richie Myers, Bobby Del Greco, Tom Phoebus, Bill Stoneman, David Bote. Also notable: John McGraw HOF, Bobby Doerr HOF.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading. Happy 4/20. Rants and raves at medium.