Cub Tracks’ uncomfort food

Well, that was not very much fun after the first inning. Victor Caratini got everyone o their feet with his first long drive of the year, good for three runs, but that euphoria didn’t last very long as the Rays scored early and often, driving Tyler Chatwood from the game and Jharel Cotton to the airport.

There were some highlights. Vic’s home run and Kris Bryant’s two solo homers were entertainment. But the rest, well, I had my eyes closed a lot of the time. This just wasn’t the Cubs’ day. The best they can do now is meatloaf. Sunday dinner, though. Meatloaf is welcome on my table.

There were some postgame roster moves — Tyler Chatwood was placed on the shuttle, along with Jharel Cotton, and Alec Mills and Max Fried have returned to the big club. Also returning is Albert Almora Jr., with Steven Souza Jr. taking over his Triple_A assignments.

Mills takes over Chatwood’s spot, fifth in the rotation, and Fried will try to earn some trust as the second long man behind bullpen stalwart Jesus Luzardo. Trevor Megill takes over the 26th man spot and can be optioned if the Cubs need a bat at some point in the near future.

Today’s third and final game of the series will feature Yu Darvish against our old friend Jose Quintana. Hopefully Q still remembers how to hold the gopher balls. 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.

On a Fourth of July when there were no major league games for the first time since the strike of 1981, the details of the scrimmage kind of matter. If only a little. — Steve Greenberg.

• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Setting the scene: The Cubs’ new world at Wrigley Field training camp. “... I think it’s comforting to know that everybody’s clear and has tested negative,” said David Ross.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chicago Cubs hold simulated 3-inning game as Ross tries to make his players feel ‘safe’ at Wrigley Field. Corey Freedman reports on the game. Here are some dimensions of sight and sound. Steve Greenberg shares his feelings.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago* {$}): Cubs, MLB face ‘uncomfortable’ truth trying to pull off pandemic season. “The Cubs are in a position of strength, both in sheer numbers of healthy players and, it appears, enough mature, veteran attitudes to have a chance to maintain the group discipline necessary to keep it that way.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): As Anthony Rizzo and Cubs get back to it, a look back at a contentious negotiation.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Ross: ‘Be comfortable being uncomfortable’. Kris Bryant should be ecstatic. “The little details that we’re going to have to pay attention to are going to matter a great deal.”
• Steve HGreenberg (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs confident Ian Happ seeking to pick up where he left off in Arizona. “Happ’s hitting in the Cactus League was especially encouraging after he closed last season with a terrific September.”
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ Jason Heyward feels responsibility to speak up for racial equality. “We can’t just sit here and sit on our hands any longer,” he said, “knowing our families, our friends and our communities are struggling.”
• Cubs birthdays: Pat Wright, Ward Miller, Buck Freeman, Dave Lemonds, Gary Matthews, Rich Gossage HOF, Tim Worrell, Bo Porter.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading!