Cub Tracks’ almost

Mayyyybe shouldn’t have played, but did. Arguable point. Came up a little short.

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.

• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Tyler Chatwood, Jose Quintana ‘really important for us’. “Both Chatwood and Quintana view themselves as starting pitchers ...” Patrick Mooney weighs in {$}.
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Ryan Tepera playing a big role in Cubs’ bullpen. Tepera has a 2.38 ERA in 10 games this season and had struck out 40.5% of the batters he had faced.
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Adding Quintana might be as good as it gets for Cubs at trade deadline. “... the Cubs are at least in a seller’s market for pitching that’s universally in need ...”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Willson Contreras’ improvement behind the plate has been a ‘pillow’ for Cubs pitchers: ‘They can rest on me’. “This year I want to be better at framing and help my team to be in the playoffs once again,” he said. Jordan Bastian has words.
• Brendan Miller (Cubs Insider*): Cubs Stats to follow: Javier Báez’ newfound patience against high fastballs. “... while he has successfully narrowed his zone, he hasn’t hit the pitches he normally crushes.”
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Jason Heyward opts out of the Cubs lineup vs. the Tigers. “... the Cubs did not provide a specific reason for Heyward’s decision.” Tim Stebbins explains.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs cutting staff in their scouting and development departments after the season, sources say. “At least six professional scouts were affected, with staff losses easily exceeding two dozen, according to another source.” Maddie Lee also reports. Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney {$} are said to have been first. Our front page also has addressed this.
• Cubs birthdays: Dave Wright, Eddie Mulligan, Phil Collins, Marv Gudat, Emil Verban, Peanuts Lowrey, Jim King, Ernie Broglio, John Hairston, Brian McRae, Andy Pratt, Seth Frankoff, Mike Olt, Josh Vitters. Also notable: Jim Thome HOF.
• SimNews:

The simCubs were unfortunately unable to overcome difficulties in batting with runners on and were downed by the simMarlins in 11 innings by a score of 1-0. Florida’s Connor Scott stole second and third and came in on Lewis Brinson‘s single to right in a dramatic conclusion to the epic pitchers’ duel.

Today Jon Lester tries to right the ship in the rubber game of the series. The game will ‘air’ at 3 p.m. CT. All game video and related material is available commercial-free, 24/7, at the BCB Media Center.

Food for Thought:

Thanks for reading.