Cub Tracks springs in

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.

Here’s a few thousand words about the Cubs’ win: Photo Gallery, by John J Kim. No major controversies surfaced Saturday. The writers were pretty quiet. Let’s just bask in the warm sunlight and a victory and get ready for today’s game.

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• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): David Ross on MLB moving the All-Star Game: “Kudos to them”. “... the stance MLB has taken will be the subject of ongoing conversation.”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Many teams — including the Chicago Cubs — will look to replace Atlanta as the site of the 2021 All-Star Game. So why not have it at Wrigley Field? “How much influence Epstein has had on Manfred is unknown ...”
• Jon Greenberg (The Athletic {$}): On Saturday, it felt like the good ol’ days for the Cubs at Wrigley Field. “Not quite an offensive explosion, but some Saturday smoke on a sunny Wrigley Field afternoon.”
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs’ offense bounces back after rough season opener. “The Cubs found different ways to create offense in Saturday’s 5-1 victory over the Pirates. Kris Bryant and Jason Heyward added a pair of solo homers.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Jake Arrieta’s return: 6 strong in Cubs’ win. “I’ve been anticipating this day for a while,” Arrieta said. “It’s just like I remember it.” More about this from Tim Stebbins. Tony Andracki has thoughts.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago* {$}): Cubs’ Arrieta reacquainting with fans, city on scooter rides. “I like to get out in the city and see people, have conversations,” the right-hander said Saturday after his season debut. “The fans here are some of the best in all the world.”
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): After winning Cubs’ second-base job, David Bote’s focus remains on mental side of the game. “I have to go all-in [mentally] or nothing. I can’t control [numbers],” Bote said.”
• Maddie Lee (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs’ Javy Báez, Kris Bryant let ‘Game Talk’ vs. Pirates, in walk year. “... anyone worried what the pressure of 2022 free agency could mean for the Cubs core got some reassurance.”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): Cubs release alternate site roster, Brailyn Márquez not listed. “He did not pitch at all in camp in Mesa and hopefully this is just about being ready quite yet as opposed to being injury related.”
• Food for Thought: