Cub Tracks suits up

The real Cubs eventually got to playing and they looked a good deal like the simCubs, at least in the first part of the game, scoring early and often, getting the good start from ageless Jon Lester, the bullpen holding the line. Then the bullpen got real and commenced walking the ballpark, and the bats stopped coming around, except for a brief interlude in the sixth. That was hard to watch and dragged on and on and on and on as the lead disappeared run by run. It came down to Joey Votto and Jeremy Jeffress with the bags jammed, a one-run lead, and two gone. Jeffress prevailed, and so did the Cubs. Al will have details in his recap.

I don’t see any reason why baseball announcers should EVER wear suits and ties. Frankly, I don’t see any reason why anyone should. Or at least should HAVE to. Just not a good look, for me.

Go Marlins. Jeebus, that’s a good look.

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.

“It’s just what we’re dealing with here in 2020 in this environment. It just reheightens your awareness and continues to create a focus of going through the protocols. And I think the main thing that we’ve done a really good job of at home is following those protocols, and we’ve got to continue to do that on the road.” — David Ross.

• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Owners reportedly did not discuss cancelling season on their call today. “... the “plan” for the immediate fallout with respect to the Marlins and Orioles (ditto Phillies and Yankees) is more or less to cross fingers that it doesn’t get worse.”
• Ken Rosenthal and Jayson Stark (The Athletic {$}): ‘This is way more than a wake-up call’: Where MLB goes from here. “MLB needs to act aggressively now, to hope that you have kept the outbreak contained to the Marlins,” said Dr. Zachary Binney, an epidemiologist at Emory University’s Oxford College.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs, MLB’s best efforts can’t prevent coronavirus crisis in opening week. “... this was never a baseball season. It always was a coronavirus season ...” Russell Dorsey has words.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Former Cub Pedro Strop: MLB coronavirus season ‘not going to be easy’. “Strop expressed optimism in the league’s ability to finish a season by being careful and following the protocols in place.” Mark Gonzales has more.
• Michael Allerdyce (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ Willson Contreras bringing his own towels, sheets and Lysol on road. “I haven’t gotten that far, but if someone thinks that’s a good idea, I’m down for it,’ Cubs infielder Nico Hoerner said about Contreras’ plans.
• John Grochowski (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Kris Bryant leads all expansion-era Cubs in weighted runs created plus, “When it comes to overall production, Bryant has been one of the best hitters the Cubs have had.”
• Alex Shapiro (Yahoo Sports*): Chicago Cubs’ Bryant wears mask in field after Miami COVID-19 outbreak. “The mask didn’t seem to hinder Bryant’s ability on the base paths, as he scored from second on a double from Contreras.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Turning up the fake noise at Wrigley Field drowns out the Cubs-Brewers chirping, but MLB’s mandate strikes the wrong chord. “... you just can’t make this stuff up, and it’s only going to get stranger as the 60-game sprint goes on.”
• Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): Why are Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies in shirts and ties in the booth? “... a comfortable broadcast is a good broadcast. #FreeLenAndJD”
• Cubs birthdays: Carmelo Martinez. Also notable: Derrek Lee.

SimCubs news:

The simCubs (75-31) cut the simGiants down to size as they returned the candygram to its sender, defeating former Cub Jeff Samardzija and his school 4-2 behind the very good pitching of Alec Mills, who allowed a single earned run in four innings but was replaced by Jesus Luzardo with a runner on and the score knotted at one. Luzardo also gave up a run on a no-doubter by Ender Inciarte but no more in his two innings, and Max Fried threw a scoreless seventh, vulturing the win as Jason Kipnis launched a ball into the aether. Brandon Morrow held the Giants down for an inning until Craig Kimbrel came in to strike out the side in the ninth.

Due to fluctuations in the matrix, the highlights consist of the bottom of the ninth ... but that’s the best part. Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, and Kyle Schwarber doubled, and the two Jasons went deep, with Jason Heyward connecting early and sending the ball to Davy Jones’ locker in McCovey Cove.

Today Yu Darvish (9-4, 3.46) faces Johnny Cueto (5-1, 3.21). Willson Contreras will enjoy the game from the bench as Victor Caratini gets the start. Red-hot KB and his 15-game hitting streak will lead off.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.