Cub Tracks takes the edge off

Here at CUB TRACKS NEWS AND NOTES™, we like to keep things brief on the principle that it makes us appear wise. We don’t always, but we like to.

Arrieta started and looked good (would have been great if not for those damn gophers), Hoerner started and barreled balls, barely missed a sweet bunt. KB’s wrist seemed okay as he launched a two-run oppo bomb. There was some additional offense generated, and lots of warning-track fly balls as the Cubs prevailed, with help from Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel.

It’s 420 feet to straight center field in Detroit. Just sayin’. Weed will be in the concession stands before too long. You know it will.

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“I really didn’t know anything about it, I didn’t have any interest in it,” Sandberg said. “Now it’s every day sometimes, as I’m looking for something to take the edge off.”

• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs no longer anybody’s role model for COVID-19 safety. “The Cubs remain one of many teams in the majors with enough vaccine holdouts to fall short of the 85-percent vaccination threshold...”
• NBC Sports Chicago*: Cubs and White Sox to increase capacity, designate areas for fully vaccinated fans. “Health and safety protocols previously in place at both ballparks will remain, including mask mandates, cashless transactions, mobile ticketing and more.”
• Rick Hummel (St. Louis Post-Dispatch*): Cardinals’ fan capacity could approach 30,000 for Cubs series. “It is very good news,” said club president Bill DeWitt III.
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): As the Chicago Cubs move toward 60% capacity, president of business operations Crane Kenney is hopeful Wrigley Field will be back to full capacity in early July. “The city and state have been really good partners,” Kenney said.
• Russell Dorsey (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs’ Zach Davies slowly turning the corner after rough April. Davies has allowed two earned runs in 16⅓ innings in May.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): What’s working for Cubs (and what’s not). “... a look at three good developments and three trouble areas...”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): After the Chicago Cubs won a team Gold Glove Award last season, a look at 4 reasons why their defense still is working to get back to elite form. “I still think we have a quality defensive group that we’re going to need to play quality defense with our starters and that group,” David Ross said. Sahadev Sharma offers numbers {$}.
• Cody Delmendo (On Tap Sports Network*): Matt Duffy makes a strong case for Cubs future. “No one cared when the Cubs signed Duffy in December. Now, his on-base skills, versatility, and leadership are drawing eyes on the North Side.”
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Welp, sigh, guess I already gotta say something about Kris Bryant trade stuff. “Jon Morosi ... did some opining today.” Patrick Mooney has second thoughts {$}.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Joc Pederson’s hot stretch indicates either power surge or another slump. “... Pederson wasn’t signed to slap singles.” Tim Stebbins doubles down. Russell Dorsey for a third helping.
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs hope Ian Happ ‘getting really close’ to return from IL. “Ian’s going to run through the gamut of everything today and then we’ll assess after that,” Ross said pregame Friday.
• Robert Channick (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Cubs great Ryne Sandberg new spokesman for Chicago-based weed retailer Verilife, as marijuana goes fully mainstream. “Now it’s baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and marijuana.”

Food for Thought:

Thanks for reading.