Cub Tracks’ the good, the bad, and the ugly truth

Sorry to break it to you: the Cubs never were going to win all of the remaining games. Is that a real poncho or is it a Sears poncho, blondie?

Wa waaa waaaaa.

Eli Wallach and Lee van Cleef notwithstanding, it’s not always easy to tell who the bad guys are, and ugly is in the eye of the beholder. But it’s made simpler when the stinkin’ Cardinals are added to the mix. The Redbirds are almost always the villain of the piece. I’ve already spoken of my belief that these games shouldn’t be played, and to lose even one of them is a gamethreading mistake as they should already be in the Cubs’ pockets, since the truth of how the virus propagated among the St. Louis flock remains as hidden as the man with no name’s appellation.

But I don’t run things, and so, the games are being played. The Cubs seemingly played the first game with blanks in the chamber. The Professor pitched well enough but Rowan Wick, in relief, gave up a tie-breaking double to Brad Miller and that was all she wrote. Pittsburgh-area native Ian Happ fired the only long shot for the boys in blue. Albert Almora Jr. patrolled center field as only he can. But that wasn’t enough.

That game bit the big one. I predict that Tyson Miller will enjoy South Bend again, and soon. Brad Miller should be enjoying his cup of coffee. Arg. Max Schrock is not4me2 any more than Max Schreck is Nos4a2. Oh, it makes me see red.

But the second game got better and battier as it unreeled, and David Bote and the Cubs buried the losing streak with its boots on and a stake in its heart. That’s Good4me2. Al will have full details in his recap.

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.

• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): The Mark Grace dilemma is a thorny problem for Marquee Sports Network and Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts. “... a source said the network told him he would be “off” for his next five scheduled appearances but not fired.” Phil Rosenthal also covered this.
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs facing some adversity for first time after dropping series against Brewers. ‘‘We needed that one extra little bloop to maybe fall, and it’s a different story,’’ left-hander Jon Lester said.
• Bruce Levine (670 The Score*): Cubs’ pitching strength to be tested this week. “How the Cubs fare with 11 games over the next 10 days could play a factor in how the front office approaches the trade deadline on Aug. 31.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): David Ross says he and Cubs front office have had conversations about the upcoming trade deadline. “They’ve got a pretty good eye for this group and that (part of) a season. I leave that up to them.” Commentary based on Patrick Mooney {$} article.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): If Cubs’ Craig Kimbrel walks like a closer, talks like a closer, is he the closer? “... the Cubs aren’t ready to proclaim Kimbrel cured and restored ...” Michael Cerami has words.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): The tunnel vision of Anthony Rizzo’s Cubs: ‘This season’s getting played’. “That’s our mentality. Button everything up. Be as safe as possible. That’s what guys have been doing.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs listed as road team vs. Cardinals on historic Wrigley Field scoreboard. “There’s nothing about what’s going on right now that’s normal anyway,” Cardinals veteran Matt Carpenter said pregame of playing ‘home’ games at Wrigley, “so why not add another oddity to this season?”
• Cubs birthdays: Eddie Hickey, Burleigh Grimes HOF, William Marriott, Mandy Brooks, Bernie Friberg, Bob Humphreys, Paul Popovich, Justin Wilson. Also notable: Roberto Clemente HOF.

SimCubs news:

The ersatz Cubs were soundly thrashed by Clayton Kershaw and the digital Dodgers. Max Fried pitched credibly, allowing three runs in five innings, but Kershaw and company only allowed one first-inning simCubs run while plating a generous portion of their own runners off the suddenly beleaguered bullpen and the result was an uneventful defeat and the Dodgers’ sixth win in a row.

Three more games in this series. At least the simCubs won’t have to face simKershaw again. Today’s game will feature Yu Darvish (9-5) against Julio Urias (6-3). All game video and related material is available commercial-free, 24/7, at the BCB Media Center.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.