Cub Tracks’ number nine

Looks like Javy’s gone bats. Nice. About time. Maybe there are signs that the offense as a whole is getting untracked. Maybe. That would be nice, too.

Oh hey! A hit with the bags jammed, too. And let’s not forget David Bote’s bat, or Alec Mills’ decent pitching.

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.

• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): Yu Darvish continues to get better with age and the Cubs are enjoying the show. “Since the second half of last season, Darvish has a 2.43 ERA over 118 2/3 innings (19 starts) with a 35.4 percent strikeout rate and 2.8 percent walk rate.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Tyler Chatwood, Jose Quintana to return from IL Tues. “The question hovering over their return was how manager David Ross would utilize the starters.” Jesse Rogers reports. Evan Altman has the answer.
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): What keeps Theo Epstein up at night, one week away from the trade deadline. “Even if it’s just acquiring a role player or two and adding depth to the roster, look for the Cubs to do something ...” Matt Snyder writes about this.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): These 7 relievers could be options for Cubs as trade deadline approaches. “... the Cubs are almost certainly going to be looking for proven players with little to no financial obligations ...” Ben Bailey adds on.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Trouble brewing against the Cubs? Just load the bases. RISPy business.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ Ross: ‘We’re going to live and die’ with slumping stars. “We’re going to be as good as those guys are. That’s our strength,” said Ross. Mark Gonzales reports. Sahadev Sharma has words {$}.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ Javier Báez crushes first homer in three weeks, an opposite field blast. “... El Mago’s bat heating up would go a long way.”
• Cubs birthdays: Rube Kroh, Doug Glanville, Gary Matthews, Jr, Adam Warren. Also notable: Rollie Fingers HOF.

SimCubs news:

Current standings and league leaders. SimTrout is at 9.9 WAR on the season.

No game Monday. Today the 90-41 simCubs take on the 53-78 simMarlins in the first of a three-game series in Miami. Ryan Yarbrough (14-4, 3.19) will try to win his fifteenth against Jordan Yamamoto (7-9, 4.28). Javy has the day off — Greg Jones is going to spell him today. Rizzo and Willie are still shaking off the icicles but are back in there.

All game video and related material is available commercial-free, 24/7, at the BCB Media Center.

Food for Thought: