Cub Tracks is fired up

The simCubs are up to two in a row now after handing the Brewers a defeat in which the starting pitcher had a two-RBI, one TOOTBLAN kinda day and Ian Happ and Willson Contreras mistreated the baseball.

Both gentlemen were 3-for-4 with a home run and Kyle Hendricks taught class, winning his 11th game to lead the staff. Dan Winkler finished the game in his usual efficient manner, Nico Hoerner continued to drive the spheroid, and Victor Caratini drove in a couple in his stint subbing for Anthony Rizzo. Vic still hasn’t gone deep, though.

If the rest of the schedule turns out like this, we’ll all be happy campers, albeit socially distant ones.

Today Ryan Yarbrough will take the hill and try to wrest the third victory in the four-game set from the clutches of the Brewers and Brandon Woodruff. Al will have more about the game in the game post at 2:30 p.m. CT, and then 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.

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.

MLB statement to ESPN regarding teams not naming players that test positive for coronavirus: “Because COVID-19 is not considered an employment-related injury, we will respect the privacy of the players who test positive or who are under evaluation, and we will defer to their wishes regarding public updates about their status. Without their voluntary permission, we will not disclose any COVID-19 related information.”

“Incalculable” is what Chuck Greenberg, owner of 3 MiLB teams (StL/Tex/Cubs affils), told ESPN of the pandemic effect on the minors. “We may be the only industry in the country that goes 19 months without operating its core business.” “I have nothing but concern & empathy for what every industry in our country has gone through, but I don’t know that there’s another industry that is more adversely affected for a longer period of time than minor league baseball, because of our seasonality.”

• Shannon Ryan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): As sports resume, experts warn fans and athletes need to be on the lookout for pitfalls — and potential stoppages: ‘There are a ton of blind spots’. “This is one situation where you can’t see around every corner,” said Dr. Brian Cole, a sports medicine surgeon at Midwest Orthopedics at Rush University Medical Center.
• Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): Dollars and sense: Baseball is back and we’re nervous, stressed and hopeful. “The logistics are challenging enough that I think it was a good thing the schedule was pared down to 60 games.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Why MLB should fear Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy’s bout with COVID-19. “... this highly contagious virus is so unpredictable that it’s foolish to assume it won’t hit you hard — or even become deadly — just because you’re young and healthy ...” Sahadev Sharma {$} adds a few words.
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): Ian Happ has done something really impactful with his Quarantine Coffee for COVID relief. “From now until Sunday, 1 out of every 10 bags of Quarantine Coffee will be autographed by Happ ...” Jason Heyward is doing his part as well. Jordan Bastian concurs.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Inbox: Will DH mean Cubs stick to a set lineup? It’s complicated. Also, five things to watch.
• Rick Morrissey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): New DH rule might be good for the Cubs’ Schwarber, but it’s not good for baseball. “Baseball players were meant to pick up a bat and head to the plate.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Relax, Chicago Cubs fans: Kris Bryant isn’t nervous about his leadoff role. “Bryant handled some leadoff duties at the University of San Diego from 2011 to 2013 before the Cubs selected him as the second pick in the 2013 amateur draft.”
• Kenny Kelly (Beyond the Box Score): How to end service time manipulation. “Something needs to change, and there are myriad ways to go about solving this issue for players.”
• Phil Rosenthal (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Should Chicago Cubs fans be optimistic about a Comcast deal? Your Marquee Sports Network questions answered. “We’re optimistic we’ll get some things on here soon,” Crane Kenney said.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Report: Wrigley Rooftops approved to operate at 25% capacity for regular season. “Tickets are reportedly not being sold for any of the Cubs’ potential exhibition games, but will go on sale for the regular season once the schedule is announced.” Steve Greenberg has more.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Spots Chicago*): Cubs fan base named second most loyal in MLB, only trailing Red Sox. “When you wait more than 100 years for a championship, you must maintain a strong sense of loyalty to your favorite team.”
• ABC7 Chicago: Palatine Cubs fan builds Wiffle ball Wrigley Field in backyard. “I just started it, it was a spot for me and my friends to come back here and play every summer,” said D.J. Dick.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Former Cub Dexter Fowler says St. Louis has best pizza, riles up Cubs fans. “Nothing like some mid-week Twitter trolling to help get through the week.”

• Cubs birthdays: Len Madden, So Taguchi, Jermaine Van Buren, Angel Pagan.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading!