Cub Tracks spells relief

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we like to keep things brief on the principle that it makes us appear wise. Unless we feel a rant. But we don’t mind a little informing with the entertaining.

No game Friday, which means Cub Tracks was up to our own devices, but we shan’t talk about those. None of them make waffles. There is a game today, though, and perhaps some of the links below can shed some light on or lend some perspective to one’s consumption of the sporting event.

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.)

• Ryan Thomure (Cubs Insider*): Extending Zach Davies makes too much sense for Cubs. “... Davies continually vexes the computers and human evaluators by out-pitching his projections.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Jake Arrieta on 2021 outlook: ‘Only going to get better’. “If this is what Arrieta can give the Cubs the rest of the season, they will gladly take it.”
• Tony Andracki (Marquee Sports Network*): Armed with a bulldog mentality and epic mustache, Andrew Chafin is a huge piece of Cubs bullpen. “The look in his eye when he takes the ball from me on the mound, the way he comes off the mound staring at me like he wants to fight me makes me smile,” a laughing David Ross said.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Teammates, opponents realize old Craig Kimbrel finally back for Cubs. “It’s only been four games, but Kimbrel now has nine strikeouts without a walk or hit allowed in 4.2 innings of work.” Jordan Bastian checks in. Gordon Wittenmyer observes the road signs. Jared Wyllys contributes.
• Bryan Smith (Bleacher Nation*): A scouting overview of Dauris Valdez, the Cubs newly-acquired reliever with a 102mph fastball. “... a good year will put him in the mix for the 40-man roster.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chicago Cubs should feel fortunate to be 3-3 after a startling lack of hitting during their opening homestand. “Ross wasn’t about to panic over the slow offensive start, though Cubs fans were in midseason form.”
• Ryan Herrera (MLB.com*): Ross eyes offensive spark with lineup tweaks. “I think looking at matchup stuff and where the guys fit in and trying to get them to play, I think that’s something that you never stop doing.”
• Steve Greenberg (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Mike Bryant — Kris’ dad — weighs in on walk-year pressure and what else Cubs fans should know. “Kris and I know he is blessed to be able to play this game with the best players on the planet,” Bryant said. “He and I will never take that for granted.”
• Chicago Sun-Times* {$}: Fran Spielman interviews Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg. Podcast.
• Jeff Agrest (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): The Score’s Matt Spiegel preparing for his five innings of fame. “When Cubs radio voice Pat Hughes moves to TV for five games this season, Zach Zaidman will fill in. Spiegel will give Zaidman a break in the fifth inning. “This is the first dream I ever had,” Spiegel said.”
• Will Sammon (The Athletic {$}): Baseball’s rich, colorful and (sometimes) profane history of the lineup card exchange. “Sometimes you just can’t let it go,” Joe Maddon said.

Food for thought:

Thanks fir reading.