Cub Tracks RISP management

Please refer to Al’s recap for the events of yesterday’s Cubs-Brewers game. I don’t want to talk about it.

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.

“Maybe when I’m done this year or done playing, I’ll look back at it,” Colin Rea said. “For me it’s just another opportunity for me and I just kind of take it one step, one day at a time.”

• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs fall in 10th after Souza Jr.’s heroics. “The Cubs plated one run in the home half of the 10th, but could not pull even to avoid the loss.” Maddie Lee has words.
• Steve Greenberg (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Polling Place: And the No. 1 reason the Cubs have the best record in baseball is … “Hitting? Pitching? Good vibes? Healthy Players? All have been factors in what has been a Cubs cakewalk thus far.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs Anthony Rizzo on latest COVID-19 threat: ‘This season’s getting played’. “That’s our mindset. That’s our mentality.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cardinals are defiant — and optimistic — as they finally return to play after a COVID-19 outbreak. 55 games in 44 days.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Despite costly mistake, Alec Mills proves he’s rotation mainstay. “That was a really big start for us and for him,” David Ross said after the game. Ross also offers updates on pitcher health.
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): How Ryan Tepera’s addition, emphasis on consistency shored up Cubs bullpen. “Tepera’s emergence as a trusted reliever is a perfect example of the evolution of the Cubs bullpen over the past two weeks.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): How did Ross handle a tough pinch-hitting decision Friday night? “... I think it’s the right move. I had no problem with it,” said Jason Kipnis.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Former Cub Ryan Dempster joins ballhawks outside Wrigley, makes catch on bike. “Got it,” Dempster said nonchalantly before riding off, flipping the ball back to one of the other hawks.

Cubs birthdays: Terry Shumpert, Bret Barberie, Damian Jackson, Yu Darvish, Martin Maldonado, Justin Grimm.

SimNews:

The simCubs also lost, with Reese McGuire’s three-run blast being the telling blow in a 5-3 contest, and so the winning streak was derailed. Sometimes that’s just how the ball bounces. The Cubs will try to bounce back and grab the meatloaf. Toronto-style probably has maple bacon on it. I’d be up for that.

The signs point toward the postseason and the simCubs continue to evaluate player personnel with an eye toward the playoff roster.

Ryan Yarbrough (14-4) will face Hyun-Jin Ryu (13-8) in today’s rubber game. Monday the simCubs return to simWrigley for four against the Dodgers and three against the stinkin’ Cardinals. All simgames run at 3 p.m. CT, unless the real Cubs are playing in that window. All game video and related material is available commercial-free, 24/7, at the BCB Media Center.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading!