Cub Tracks sees stars

Today’s the simAll-Star Game. Yesterday was the Home Run Derby, which was won by our very own Anthony Rizzo.

Today, Rizzo stands a chance to be in the game, though Freddie Freeman is likely to start as the top vote-getter. Javier Baez and Ian Happ are starting — Willson Contreras looks to have been beaten out by Omar Narvaez, who is having a terrific season. Kyle Hendricks, Dan Winkler, and Craig Kimbrel are also likely to appear on the roster if not in the game. Max Scherzer and Chris Sale are likely to start. The game doesn’t give the rosters, which is mad, so we’re winging it from the final vote.

Al will have more about that game in the game post at 2:30 p.m. CT, after which I’ll post the actual URL to the stream at 3 p.m. CT. Or you can catch the game at the BCB Media Center and also catch past games and game videos, if you want the full #simCubs experience. I uploaded a ton of player data if you’re looking to take a deep dive.

And now, here’s Cub Tracks News and Notes. 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.

• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs survive coronavirus scare as manager David Ross, players test negative. “We do feel comfortable in this bubble that we’ve kind of created here,” said pitching coach Tommy Hottovy.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): ‘A trophy is a trophy’: Jon Lester’s adjusting, taking 60-game season in stride. “The big thing for me was just trying to stay physically active,” Lester said of how he stayed prepared during the shutdown.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Jose Quintana (Thumb) still on track to start throwing this week. “That would obviously be great news ...”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Bullpen hopeful Duane Underwood Jr. used improved curve to notch 6 strikeouts in Sunday scrimmage. “... the 6-foot-2 righty is now in his ninth year in the Cubs organization and has made only the smallest ripples in Chicago.”
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Why Cubs catcher Victor Caratini will be paired with Yu Darvish this season. “... what Vic did with Darvish that second half of the season last year too, catching the majority of those games, can’t go unnoticed,” said Hottovy. Willie supports this message, say Mark Gonzales. But he wants to play every day, says Steve Greenberg.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Contreras on pitching staff, energy at Wrigley. “They’re attacking the zone. They’re spinning the ball really well. They’re using the whole zone, and that’s one thing that makes me happy.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Rizzo helps the Cubs to the best on-paper First Base projection in baseball. “... Rizzo continues to be a model of consistency in MLB.” And he’s all business, says Gordon Wittenmyer.
• Cubs birthdays: Art Nichols, Jiggs Parrott, Julio Bonetti, Steve Stone, Chuck Rainey, Jose Hernandez, Derrick May, Jack Leathersich. Also notable: Crash Davis.

Food for thought:

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