Cub Tracks’ Future Shock

The simCubs won in walk-off fashion, propelled by a clutch David Bote hit after Bote threatened a walk-off slamma jamma on the previous pitch. Kyle Schwarber walloped a two-run blast in the sixth inning, which was matched by a Joey Votto double that drove in two off of Brandon Morrow and gave Yu Darvish yet another no-decision. Yu has pitched very, very well, especially lately, but he hasn’t racked up gaudy win totals like the rest of the staff. Morrow has been very good also, but he’s not getting the numbers love, either. The Reds had a total of three hits on the day and made the most of them. Votto’s drive was on a pitch that could have credibly been called a ball, but he stroked it like he always does, into the gap for a tweener. Yu had a little walk trouble. His ball was really moving and was virtually unhittable, but occasionally evaded the strike zone entirely.

The broadcast had some hiccups and the highlights reel got eaten. Still we have the footage of Bote’s hit to love, and the game reel has the highlights:

The middle game is today, and then we have three more games with the Reds all year. Al will have more about the 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.

FYI: SimGames will continue to be played according to the daily schedule and they will be posted at approximately 9 a.m. NL Central Time. We will continue coverage on these pages, with the simCubs section coming before the Food for Thought section, if and when real game threads commence.

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And now, without further ado, 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.

• Joe Reedy (AP*): Ballparks to use crowd noise from video game during season. “San Diego Studios, a branch of Sony Interactive Entertainment, compiled the noise during games over several seasons.” That sound is Brandon Palmer, flat-out laughing his ass off.

• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Why Cubs say stats won’t play ‘huge role for careers or making money’ in 2020. “I think it’s going to be about the ‘W’ this year and winning,” Cubs manager David Ross said.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Hard work, transformation pay off for Kyle Hendricks with Opening Day start. “It may have been a bigger deal to me to tell him than it was for him to hear the news,” said Ross.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): José Quintana, another trade deadline and the Cubs’ constant need for pitching. “Quintana could function as an addition at the Aug. 31 trade deadline.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Anthony Rizzo participates in BP session Thursday. “,,, the main goal for this session is to adjust to tracking live pitches in the box.”

• Jamal Collier (Chicago Tribune* {$}): 4 takeaways from Chicago Cubs camp, including cautious optimism about MLB’s return plan and Jason Kipnis being added to the roster. “It’s going to continue to be an adjustment,” said Ross, in part.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Notes: Kipnis right at home; 2B starter TBD. “I kind of knew I had more in me,” Kipnis said. Actually #2 is Yu, says Evan Altman.
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Nico Hoerner and the question of readiness in 2020. “... it’s not a lock that he’s ready to start in the big leagues just yet.”
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): How Kipnis and Hoerner plan to make second base a Cubs ‘strong suit’. “We’ve got a really good competition,” Ross said of second base.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): How Kyle Schwarber’s DH approach with the Chicago Cubs mirrors that of Hall of Famer Jim Thome. “... I think everyone is curious to see how it plays out in the National League.” said Thome.
• Cubs birthdays: Larry Hoffman, Larry McLean, Ad Brennan. Also notable: Joe Torre HOF, Eugenio Suarez.

Food for thought:

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