Positivity reigns for the nonce as the Cubs continue to efficiently mow down the competition.
Updated collective line from Cubs' starting pitchers this spring: 21.1 IP, 13 H, 3 R/ER, 7 BB, 16 K, 0 HR.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 10, 2021
You know what day it is, Anthony. No, not that Wednesday, this one:
Casual Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/5jAm8cWkH9
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 10, 2021
Play ball! pic.twitter.com/L697zBjbwC
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 10, 2021
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 on this page as sarcasm font. (In the comments section, use @ before and after your remarks @ to produce sarcasm font. In the text body. It doesn’t work in the headlines.)
Jon Lester is talking to reporters for the first time since surgery last week. He said he had wanted to address thyroid issues "for a while." He said he had previously chalked up the lethargy to getting older. "This last yr was was pretty tough for me as far as energy level."
— Maria Torres (@maria_torres3) March 10, 2021
Thank you, @Cubs fans!!!! pic.twitter.com/IQotzp93Zf
— Andrew Belleson (@ChicagoCubsPA) March 9, 2021
.@pjhiggins7 solo shot trot! pic.twitter.com/MMVr0rvnQr
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 10, 2021
#Cubs great Billy Williams — next stop, vaccinated — is painfully missing his team. Should he go to Mesa? Is it safe? Is it the right thing to do? Column on a Hall of Famer torn, and torn up: https://t.co/wSchuTtJsT pic.twitter.com/wjkRmIrTs2
— Steve Greenberg (@SLGreenberg) March 10, 2021
RIP Blake Cullen.
- Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): How the Cubs plan to safely bring fans back to Wrigley Field. “What we need to prove to ourselves, and to the city and the state, is that we can safely reopen Wrigley Field for 8,000 people,” Crane Kenney said in a Zoom call.” Kenney joins Boog and JD [VIDEO].
- Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Fans returning to Wrigley: ‘It’s good for everybody’s psyche’. “There’s definitely concerns,” Arty Chaet, 24, said Tuesday.
- (Bleacher Nation*): Jake Arrieta has no hard feelings about the Cubs going with Yu Darvish when they did. “Certain times in the game, business has to come into play and things can go one way or the other,” Arrieta said, in part. Refers to Patrick Mooney article {$}.
- Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): How Trevor Williams fits into Cubs’ fluid pitching plans. “... manager David Ross left open the possibility the right-hander pitches in a hybrid role that goes beyond a five-man starting rotation in 2021.”
- Adam McCalvy (MLB.com*): Breaking down every NL Central bullpen. “Which ‘pens will provide the best relief?”
- Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Kris Bryant playing with peace of mind, not concerned about future. “I enjoy the new faces around me, I enjoy my time at home. It’s a good feeling. I like to see fans in the stands again.
- Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Bryant and Co. free to be ‘a little selfish’. “Ross wants his players to focus on their individual identities, believing the team identity will form in the process.”
- Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Ross on safety concerns without DH: ‘Those are the rules’. “From our standpoint, I understand the concern, but we’re going to try to do the best we can to get these guys prepared to be healthy and succeed.”
- (Cubs Insider*): Free agent contracts fall short of predictions, furthering fears of work stoppage. “All of the economic data indicates the player base should be quite upset with ownership.”
- Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chairman Tom Ricketts says he’s ‘pumped’ about the Chicago Cubs’ 2021 chances while speaking on the ‘complicated’ process of playing during the pandemic. “So managing expectations of all our fans is a challenge, but it’s off to a great start.”
Food for Thought:
Someday it may be possible for people to tackle their food allergies simply by brushing their teeth. https://t.co/QecvuxTgeK
— Science News (@ScienceNews) March 10, 2021
Pigs can play video games. Here’s why that matters. https://t.co/v4hELXar7A pic.twitter.com/DmHjbiYE1i
— Popular Science (@PopSci) March 10, 2021
Could CRISPR be the answer to chronic pain?https://t.co/RO8ude7jpR
— Futurism (@futurism) March 10, 2021
Thanks for reading!