Cub Tracks’ diminishing returns

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.

Gosh that lineup was flat-out awesome, wasn’t it? So good against the winner of the J. D. Pardo lookalike contest, Pablo Lopez. Cubs best get back on their bikes soon. Making the Marlins look like a playoff team isn’t going to help. Adam Duvall happens.

“Hold ‘em on!” says Miggy Montero, between giggles. I was all for the return of Jake Arrieta but I can admit to being wrong. He’s pitching like Chris Myers announces.

I stopped watching after the bottom of the fifth. There wasn’t enough morale blend to keep me going. It would have taken 840 or 1260. I keep singing “Billy the Marlin” to the tune of “Billy the Mountain.” Billy and Jose Lobaton have history. I’m all for a coffee cup snake.

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• MLB.com*: Injuries & Roster Moves: Hoerner progresses. “Hoerner is still building up to full game speed...”
• Patrick Mooney (The Athletic {$}): Why Cubs won’t overreact now and should remain on the buy side at trade deadline. “Jed Hoyer’s job essentially boils down to making his bosses more money...”
• Paul Sullivan (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Instead of dreaming of adding on for a long playoff run, the Chicago Cubs need to seriously consider dealing 1 or more of the Big 3. “Is it too soon to give up on the season?”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Game gets out of hand early for Cubs. “For the second game in a row, Chicago was on the wrong side of a rout at the hands of the Marlins.”
• Phil Thompson (Chicago Tribune* {$}): Adbert Alzolay is set to return to the Chicago Cubs rotation Monday with a start against the Cleveland Indians. “Oh, man, (I’m) pretty excited,” Alzolay said about his return. Tim Stebbins wrote this up, too.
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com*): Cubs proving too dependent on the dinger. “You’ve got to get guys on base in front of the home runs,” said David Ross.
• Greg Zumach (Cubs Insider*): Chicago Cubs Draft Primer: When, where, how of 2021 MLB Draft. “...the 20-round format appears to be the new normal going forward after reducing affiliated minor league teams under Commissioner Rob Manfred.”
• Jordan McPherson (Miami Herald* {$}): Miami Marlins run on Dunkin’? Rookies make coffee and doughnut run before Cubs game. Everyone’s done it,” Trevor Rogers said. “It’s part of the whole rookie deal.”

Food For Thought:

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