Cub Tracks zeroes in

‘nuff said!

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.

The Cubs still have had no positive COVID-19 tests within their player group. Outfielder Ian Happ, who is Chicago’s rep to the MLB Players Association, credited the Cubs’ ownership, front office and staff on Monday for the resources available, and praised his teammates for their behavior both at and away from the ballpark.

“We had a discussion as a team [at the start of Summer Camp],” Happ said. “Everybody was on the same page as far as what was acceptable, what was not acceptable, how important it was for us to stay healthy, and the effect that you would have on your teammates, your teammates’ families.” — Jordan Bastian.

• Alex Shapiro (NBC Sports Chicago*): Report: St. Louis Cardinals went to casino before COVID-19 outbreak. “Jon Heyman and Jerry Hairston Jr. say” Tim Stebbins has more.
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Playing the blame game isn’t helping matters in MLB’s fight against COVID-19. “It starts at the top with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred ...”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Jon Lester on Cubs-Cards series amid COVID-19 news: ‘I don’t see that happening’. “I would imagine that we’re probably not playing those games this weekend,” he added. Mark Gonzales adds on.
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): ‘Jonny Lester being classic Jon’: Lefty makes key adjustments in Cubs win. “If anyone is a master of adjustments, it’s Lester.”
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Tyler Chatwood using cutter to slice batters to ribbons. “Chatwood very literally looks different out there, from his simplified delivery to the confident poise with which he operates.” Brendan Miller has more Chatwood.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Both David Ross and Jed Hoyer suggest the issue with Craig Kimbrel is merely mechanical. “Right now, he’s obviously mechanically out of whack, and the shape of his pitches are not what they normally are,” Hoyer said. Tony Andracki talks about this.
• Dan Schlossberg (Forbes*): Is Craig Kimbrel over the hill at age 32? Chicago Cubs are worried. “We need him to be good if we’re going to have a lot of success,” Ross said. Mark Gonzales has thoughts.
• Mark Gonzales (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs bullpen finally comes through with 5 scoreless innings: ‘You could tell our rested guys were a lot sharper’. “A lot of innings we asked out of our bullpen and (it) did a great job,” Ross said.
• Lance Brozdowski (Marquee Sports Network*): Prospect Profile: What Justin Steele brings to Cubs bullpen. “Steele is a logical choice to make an impact as a left-hander on a team in need of late-inning reinforcements.”
• Adam Berry (MLB.com*): Former batboy, college star reunite in MLB. “Pirates’ Cole Tucker first met Cubs’ Jason Kipnis at Arizona State University.”
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Javy Baez’s walk-off a nice boost for Cubs ahead of a challenging week. “The Cubs (7-2) have the best record in the National League, but a potential postponement later in the week could spoil their early-season success.”
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Why Kris Bryant is ‘glad’ Cubs were ‘overly cautious’ with his stomach issues. “Put your pride and egos aside, and it could end up helping the rest of your teammates too.” Brett Taylor addresses this.
• Chris Cwik (Yahoo Sports*): Cubs outfielder Steven Souza Jr. rips Rob Manfred over MLB’s handling of coronavirus: ‘I’m embarrassed’. “It’s the second time in four days Souza has issued a strong statement about how baseball is handling the coronavirus.”
• Marquee Sports Network*: Cubs Weekly Podcast: A conversation with Doug Glanville on first-place Cubs and baseball’s place amid the pandemic. Glanville recently wrote an op-ed for the New York Times about baseball’s place in the pandemic and how the fight for the regular season is bigger than the sport. [Plus Audio]
• Cubs birthdays: Henry Clarke, Tuck Stainback, Bill Schuster, Gabe Gabler, Rich Nye, Troy O’Leary, Bob Howry, Mike Freeman. Also notable: Jake Beckley HOF, Dallas Green.

SimNews:

The simCubs advanced a level to 80-33. SimHendricks went to 14-3 and looked good doing it, and also drove in the Cubs’ third run with a second-inning single. All of the substitute Cubs got hits — Victor Caratini celebrated his new deal (5 years for $23m) by going 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored, Albert Almora Jr., who has looked decent since returning from Iowa, was 1 for 2 with two walks, and Nico Hoerner was 1 for 4. David Bote had a good day at 3rd base with a hit and a number of able defensive plays, and Kris Bryant had an errorless turn in left field. Ian Happ drove in the Cubs’ second run with a sac fly in the first.

Today’s game features sim Sean Newcomb facing off against newly-renewed sim Ryan Yarbrough (12-4, 3.14). KB returns to third base and Rizzo is back at first, one-two in the lineup. Kyle Schwarber returns to the order and will clean up. Nico Hoerner will be playing one more time at second against the lefty pitcher, and Greg Allen will start in center and bat eighth.

Tyler Olson has been recalled from Iowa and Tanner Scott was sent down. Ian Miller has been replaced by recent pickup Allen, who has a similar game with a little more pop and switch-hits. Both are at the end of their contracts and decisions will have to be made. Steven Souza Jr., and Almora are in that same boat.

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading.