Cub Tracks scrying in baseball

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.

It really does look like the Reds lit the Cubs fuse again. I’d like to believe that these teams can meet in the playoffs again, but that seems premature.

“If we’re gonna play all night, we might as well win.” — Jim Deshaies.

Prescient. Adbert Alzolay looked great. The Cubs looked awful good in this series. Holy gamethread word.

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• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): 7-inning doubleheader games may have gotten away from the original purpose, but it looks like they’re here to stay. “... there’s no going back in 2021...”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): David Bote walk-off caps Cubs’ ‘hard-fought’ sweep. “Those are two hard-fought wins,” Bote said. Also: Cubs tag Kershaw; Hendricks goes all 7 in G1.
• Evan Altman (Cubs Insider*): Keegan Thompson holds his own as Cubs sweep Cy Young starters. “... he kept the Cubs in the game by holding the Dodgers scoreless on just two hits and two walks.”
• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic {$}): After sweeping Dodgers in doubleheader, Cubs remind everyone they’re not dead yet: ‘That’s a huge day for us’. “Things can really turn around fast in this game,” Ross said. “It doesn’t take long.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Jake Arrieta (thumb) expects minimum stint on IL. “Arrieta only expects to miss one start.”
• Meghan Montemurro (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Chicago Cubs are getting a look at the future now with young pitchers Adbert Alzolay, Keegan Thompson and Justin Steele. “For an organization that has struggled to develop arms, the trio represents a glimpse of the emerging talent.”
• Tommy Birch (Des Moines Register* {$}): Changeup could propel Cubs pitching prospect Cory Abbott from Iowa to Chicago. “He’s got a chance to be a really good one,” said Iowa manager Marty Pevey.
• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation*): Chicago Cubs release Brandon Workman. “Things just looked wrong and off for Workman from the jump...”
• Brian Sandalow (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Is Kris Bryant underrated? Anthony Rizzo thinks so. “Rizzo, who has been connected with him for more than a half-decade, said Bryant is underrated and implied his consistency has gotten him overshadowed by other players.”
• Gordon Wittenmyer (NBC Sports Chicago*): Cubs deal Sox can’t refuse: Bryant would be MVP move. “There’s precedent for both the Sox and Cubs — in the scenario each finds itself in now.”
• Tim Stebbins (NBC Sports Chicago*): Ian Happ out of lineup, but return looks imminent. “He took some swings underneath,” Ross said. “He’ll probably be the last guy [used off the bench]. Want to give him rest if we can. He is available.”
• Todd Johnson (Cubs Insider*): 6 takeaways from Cubs affiliates’ Opening Night games. “... Minor League Baseball finally returned Tuesday night...”
• Chicago Sun-Times* {$}: Eddie Vedder again headlines virtual charity music festival. “The Hot Stove Cool Music virtual music festival benefits the Foundation To Be Named Later, which was co-founded by former Cubs president Theo Epstein.”
• Paul Zeise (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette*): The Cubs are a bigger embarrassment than the Pirates ever could be. “There is no excuse for the Cubs to operate this way.”

Food for thought:

Thanks for reading! **Great minds. It should be a sitememe.